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Letter to the editor

New sign law skips politicians

Campaign signs and other noncommercial signage won't be covered.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published June 14, 2007

LARGO - Fair is fair, city officials said.

People who advertise for businesses while dressed as slices of pizza and the Statue of Liberty have been banished from city sidewalks.

So why not apply those same rules to politicians waving campaign signs?

"We should not place ourselves as elected officials above what we expect of others," City Commissioner Mary Gray Black said at Tuesday night's city work session.

The idea of drafting rules to restrict sign-wielding politicians began last week when the city passed new sign rules that limit where costumed characters can stand while waving to passers-by.

But Tuesday night, when Largo staff asked city leaders for more guidance, a majority of commissioners at the meeting suggested ditching the idea of noncommercial restrictions entirely.

The new sign rules require businesses to apply for a special-use permit for people advertising in costumes. Characters must remain on the business' property, not on the sidewalk or near the curb.

Staff wanted to know: If commissioners want to restrict politicians, should the city write rules regulating other forms of noncommercial speech, such as high school kids waving carwash signs?

Yes, said Black and Commissioner Gay Gentry.

"If it's good for one," Gentry said, "it's good for everybody."

But such rules would be almost impossible to enforce, said acting City Manager Norton "Mac" Craig.

The proposal was ludicrous, anyway, said Mayor Pat Gerard.

"If you've got a gubernatorial candidate standing on the sidewalk on the corner, are you going to tell them to get lost because this is Largo?" Gerard asked.

And "what about the guy standing on the corner with the Bible saying 'Jesus is coming,' "she asked. "Are you going to stop him, too?"

Commissioners Harriet Crozier and Andy Guyette were not at Tuesday's work session, but the other two commissioners present were not eager to regulate street-corner campaigning.

Commissioner Gigi Arntzen asked what's to stop her from wearing a "Vote for Gigi" T-shirt to campaign instead of holding a sign next time she runs for re-election.

Frustrated, Commissioner Rodney Woods said the whole discussion was a waste of time.

"There are other things we could be thinking about," Woods said. "I really don't think it makes a big difference."

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or lorri@sptimes.com.

Fast Facts:

New sign rules

- Businesses must apply for a special-use permit for people advertising in costumes. Characters have to remain on private property.

- Signs atop poles will not be allowed. Instead, the city will allow only monument-style signs, no taller than 8 feet. Businesses will have 10 years to replace pole signs with monument signs.

- Any signs installed after the ordinance passed must comply immediately.

[Last modified June 13, 2007, 21:18:23]