In the “it would be funny if it were not so petty” category: The Daily Progress is reporting that Ken Boyd’s campaign is upset about signs. Signs are the least of Ken Boyd’s problems as he heads into June 8th. [No I am not inferring some scandal, just a reference to where KB has stayed throughout this entire race...somewhere in the middle of all the candidates.]
TDP should get it’s facts checked as there is one certain inconsistency; ” One of McPadden’s “very enthusiastic” campaign volunteers placed signs in improper spots in Charlottesville, McPadden said, but the volunteer met with the city’s Department of Public Works and is no longer making that mistake.”
What they failed to mention is that after a volunteer met with the city that they discovered that the signs in question were McKelvey’s signs. Oops.
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/political_signs_appear_illegally_in_rights_of_way/56837/
The congressional campaign of Albemarle County Supervisor Kenneth C. Boyd is crying foul over his rivals’ campaign signs placed illegally in the public right of way.“It’s the people’s land, not the candidates’,” said Paul Wright, Boyd’s campaign manager. “I don’t understand why anyone would think it’s OK to put their signs there. It’s against the law.”
With Tuesday’s seven-way Republican primary fast approaching, more and more campaign signs are appearing alongside major roadways and in the median of heavily traveled routes such as U.S. 29.
A survey of the Charlottesville area’s roadways Wednesday turned up signs from the campaigns of Michael McPadden, Jim McKelvey, Feda Kidd Morton and Laurence Verga.
McKelvey’s campaign manager, Brian O’Connor, said he would be happy to take down his campaign’s signs — so long as all the other campaigns did the same.
“The law is the law. If someone complains and wants the signs to come down, I’d be happy to comply,” O’Connor said. “But every campaign had to do it.”
Once the election is over, O’Connor added, all of the McKelvey signs will be removed.
“The election is less than a week away,” he said. “All my signs will be coming down.”
McPadden, an airline pilot from North Garden and a first-time candidate, said his campaign has been careful to ensure that signs are placed appropriately.
“We’re pretty sure we’re right on the law with all this stuff,” McPadden said.
One of McPadden’s “very enthusiastic” campaign volunteers placed signs in improper spots in Charlottesville, McPadden said, but the volunteer met with the city’s Department of Public Works and is no longer making that mistake.
“We think we’re doing the right thing,” McPadden said. “Word doesn’t always get out, but most of our volunteers are pretty well versed in where they can put signs and where they can’t put signs. We’re comfortable with it.”
Commercial or political signs are prohibited in the state-maintained right of way, which is generally 25 to 150 feet from the road’s centerline. Virginia’s Department of Transportation is authorized to remove the signs and may levy a $100 fine per sign.
“It is our responsibility to police those areas,” VDOT spokesman Lou Hatter said. “It is against the law to place any sort of sign in the highway right of way, whether those signs be political or commercial.”
VDOT workers usually remove signs when performing other tasks, such as mowing or maintenance. VDOT rarely levies the $100 fine, Hatter added.
Albemarle County workers also remove signs from the public’s right of way, but they do not take political signs. The county entered into an agreement with VDOT in February 2009 that authorized county staffers to confiscate signs advertising “goods, merchandise, property, business, services, entertainment or amusement activities” — but not political campaign materials.
“All that the county has been authorized to [take down] is advertising signs,” said Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin. “And political signs are not considered advertising.”
Bob Gibson, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, said campaign volunteers sometimes get a bit overzealous with placing campaign signs. The worst offenders, he added, are those who leave their campaign’s signs out long after the election is over.
Gibson said he understands why Boyd’s campaign might be frustrated. “Everyone who plays by the rules always wishes the others played by the rules too.”
Boyd’s campaign has been feeling pressure from supporters to blanket the area with signs but is instead choosing to follow its understanding of the law, Wright said.
“I would rather people think we aren’t campaigning hard — which we are — than think we don’t have respect for the law,” Wright said. “I don’t think the end justifies the means.”
The GOP primary election is Tuesday. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, in this fall’s general election.
Well, as long as everyone else is breaking the law…
So the two TEA party favorites don’t want to follow the law and it’s Boyd’s fault-um ok. To follow your logic here it’s fine that they are breaking the law because of the noble quest that is the 5th district nomination. McKelvey often says about illegal immigration “what part of illegal don’t they understand?” Well what part of illegal doesn’t Brian O’Conner understand?
“Everybody else is doing it!” is the answer delivered to parent from a teenager not someone who promise to support a strict interpretation of the Constitution. The Mc’s have both promised to show us how it should be done when they get to Washington but all I see in this instance- “the rules don’t apply to me”.
Should Boyd and the people of Albemarle be pleased that their public land has be spoiled by people who want to represent them? Shouldn’t we want those people to stick to the letter of the law? All I know about the Mc’s is what they have done in this campaign and their promises- their deeds and words haven’t matched up in this instances.
Exactly, CJ. “Everyone else doing it” is not an excuse, and the Mcs should follow the law.
Boyd only cares because he can’t afford any signs. Then again I saw Boyd signs placed illegally on VDOT right of ways today in Nelson County. Seems Boyd likes looking dumb.
Drooling Elmo Shifflett if you think Boyd looks dumb now wait till next week.
Will White
Boyd isn’t even trying. I say less than 10% of the vote. Ferrin, Verga, and Morton total 10 to 15% combined.
That leaves about 75% of the vote for Hurt, McPadden and McKelvey to divvy up.
I am watching the hit pieces from McKelvey against Hurt fly. Does Hurt withstand the flood?
I am watching the hit pieces from Hurt against McKelvey fly. Does McKelvey withstand the barrage?
I sided with Mike McPadden a few weeks ago because he was the only guy running a totally positive campaign and he is the best to take on Tom Perriello. If Jeff Clark wasn’t in the picture I could have seen Hurt winning in November, but considering the circumstances Clark makes Hurt a loser to Tom.
The first real poll is in 5 days, the next one in November.
Yeah, I’m sure McPadden and McKelvey are out there illegally placing signs. I’ve seen signs and heard stories about EVERY campaign having illegally placed signs. Candidate’s volunteers get overzealous. This should not come as a shock to anyone.
Looks like the Lynchburg Tea Party loves to delete SouthsideCentral stuff tonight. Heh.
It’s still copyrighted, though. Fair use applies.
Did anyone hear Boyd get grilled on the Schilling Show Friday? Poor guy. He and hiss staff seem so nice, but he is the least inspiring candidate by far.
“Did anyone hear Boyd get grilled on the Schilling Show Friday? Poor guy. He and hiss staff seem so nice, but he is the least inspiring candidate by far.”
Well, he and his staff may be nice, but that doesn’t necessarily cut it as you pointed out with your closing remark.
The illegal “sign bombing” that’s occurring is indeed unfortunate, but like previously stated, all the candidates are doing it. ALL of them.
Right now Boyd is just complaining about the “injustice of it all” so he can get some last minute publicity and sympathy before the Primary.
After an exhaustive investigation we are now ready to reveal the culprit in the placing of these signs.
that sign isn’t in the median and looks to be on private land that is in the right of way as well. That green area is actual a grey area.
I can guess it’s on private land because the lawn is mowed and VDOT has curtailed a lot of mowing this year. So Congrats to watchdog for showing someone putting up a legal sign!