Candidates warned about mobile signs

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

A pair of two-term city councilors have been warned to keep their oversized mobile campaign signs moving or face possible sanctions from the city.

After complaints from citizens and other candidates, Mayor Mike Williams and Councilor Howard Balmer were warned that if campaign signs on the back of trucks were left in one spot too long they could be fined for violating the city's sign ordinance.

Williams, who is seeking to return to his District 1 council seat after being appointed deputy mayor and then mayor in the wake of Kevin Jackson's resignation, called the warning "selective enforcement by the chief of police" but said he would make sure the company he is using, Southwest Mobile Media, would comply with the ruling.

Balmer, who is seeking his third term from District 4, said he was unaware of the issue until he was told about it by city officials but that he too would make sure the signs were kept in motion.

Police chief Robert Boone said he personally warned one driver that the sign was in violation because it was parked.

"If it stops for a few minutes while the driver uses the bathroom or something, that's O.K.," Boone said. "But if it's parked for any length of time it becomes a permanent sign, and that size is against the law."

Boone emphasized that no written tickets have been issued.

Alan Varner, owner of Southwest Mobile Media, said the signs are 8 feet by x 20 feet. The city sign ordinance does not specifically limit political signs on private property, but does limit political signs in the public right of way to 4 feet by 8 feet.

Varner said the drivers "are contract labor through me. They didn't even know who was going to be on their truck until they picked up that day.

Varner said he has been told that drivers will be allowed to park for 15 minutes before they are considered in violation of city code. But that information came from his customers, not the chief.

"He has not even returned my phone calls. I have called him three times," Varner said.

The good news is that Varner does not expect the issue will come up again.

"It's one of those things that will work itself out after the political season is over," Varner said. "Everybody is really sick of it now. Maybe some things will change, finally."