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"Tis the season for political signs

Jane Stebbins

BRECKENRIDGE – Commuters along Highway 9 were a bit surprised this week to see a sign promoting Gov. Bill Owens’ candidacy in the November election.

“I thought it was butt-ugly,” said County Commissioner Gary Lindstrom, who saw the political signs along the west side of Highway 9 near Tiger Road. “At the very least, I think they’re a little early and a little large.”

The county has regulations regarding election signs, banners and posters.



According to County Planner Jim Curnutte, political supporters can place one sign per candidate on private property and the signs can total a maximum of 4 square feet. They also must be removed five days following the election.

The signs in question – one faces south, the other north – measure 19.25 square feet and are purple with white letters.



Most people realize they’ll see a plethora of political signs in the weeks prior to the Nov. 5 election, but Lindstrom said he didn’t think they’d sprout up so soon. County ordinances don’t address how early the signs can be erected, Curnutte said.

County code enforcement officer Jerry Vest said she wasn’t surprised by the appearance of the signs, although she admitted she thought they were a “bit much.” Signs usually are not erected by the property owners, she said but by campaign crews who ask permission to put them up.

Vest said the signs are on Stan Miller, Inc., property, and she planned to ask them Tuesday to remove them. If they don’t, she said she would send them a violation notice. Kermit Miller, who operates the excavating company, was out of town and unable to be reached.

“If he’s kind and willing, he’ll take them down,” Vest said. “But if I have to send them a violation, they don’t have to take them down for 30 days.”

In Breckenridge, political signs, posters and banners cannot be erected 45 days prior to the election and must be removed within five days following the election.

Signs are limited to 20 square feet in size and can’t be placed on public property.


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