Sign War

18
08

2006
09:59

Foothill SignsIt appears that the “sign war” has begun. Last night, all of our signs in the Salt Lake Foothill area magically disappeared, including a 10 foot banner that was zip-tied to a brick wall. All of the signs, including the banner, were on private property.

Equally magical is the fact that Republican signs have suddenly appeared in the same area.

So here’s the deal. First, check out our sign map and let us know if your sign is not on the map. Please consider sending us a digital picture of the sign in your yard. Second, I’m offering $500 to anyone who can get video or a picture of an identifiable individual removing or vandalizing any Democrat’s sign located on private property. I’m sure there are a number of webcam ninjas who will delight in this challenge. Set the bait, spring the trap, and wait for the rat.

The campaign has a lot of signs waiting for deployment at headquarters right now. The office is at 780 East South Temple in Salt Lake. Every time a sign is stolen or taken down, replace it, but also find two additional neighbors to take signs in protest.

Update: Rob Miller has pledged an additional $500 on my bounty. Thanks Rob!
Joe Spencer has pledged $50!

Campaign

Comments

Comment from mkp @ 2006.08.18 - 11:37

For digg.com users, this has a post going at: http://digg.com/politics/Sign_War

Pingback from Gary Thornock's Weblog » And the sign war begins… @ 2006.08.18 - 11:38

[…] Last night, all of Pete Ashdown's campaign signs in the Salt Lake Foothill area, including a ten foot banner, mysteriously disappeared. […]

Comment from Tyler Farrer @ 2006.08.18 - 11:57

In my city (NSL) we can’t have signs up except for 30 days prior to an election. Are you just facing the same ordinance? I had a sign stolen that I had put up during the appropriate period this summer–but I was at the hospital with my wife and a newborn. The moral: People know when you’re not at home.

Comment from Pete Ashdown @ 2006.08.18 - 13:01

No such ordinance in Salt Lake preventing early signage. They’re just concerned with it getting cleaned up after the election.

Pingback from Geek Talk » Blog Archive » Is Stealing a Family Value? @ 2006.08.18 - 13:17

[…] As Pete Ashdown has posted on his blog, the sign war has begun. According to Ashdown: Last night, all of our signs in the Salt Lake Foothill area magically disappeared, including a 10 foot banner that was zip-tied to a brick wall. All of the signs, including the banner, were on private property. […]

Pingback from A Hero Lost » Salt Lake Republican Thieves @ 2006.08.19 - 19:46

[…] Pete Ashdown, a very web-savvy Utah candidate for US Senate, has had numerous campaign signs stolen from around foothill. Is stealing a family value? Strangely enough, these signs were replaced with Republican candidates’ signs. Apparently our family-value based Republican friends are compromising their sturdy morals in an attempt to get into office. If you’d like to get a Pete Ashdown sign to show people who you support, you can get one here by going to the Ashdown campaign headquarters, which are at 780 East South Temple. […]

Pingback from One Utah » Blog Archive » Suspicious Meal Schedule Reported by Gossip @ 2006.08.20 - 10:44

[…] The Utah Senate race seems to be heating up.  Late last week, in an early morning raid, a small army of probably self-anointed protectors of the political status quo took down all the Pete Ashdown signs in the Foothill area of Salt Lake City, and replaced many of them with “republican” signs. […]

Trackback from Blogula Rasa @ 2006.08.21 - 22:49

Utah Senate Race: Swiping Signs and Sneaking Seniors Out After Hours

Pete Ashdown’s Campaign Journal � Sign War It appears that the “sign war” has begun. Last night, all of our signs in the Salt Lake Foothill area magically disappeared, including a 10 foot banner that was zip-tied to a brick…

Comment from george fisher @ 2006.08.22 - 02:34

Returning home from vacation I found one of our “Pete” signs not stollen, but defaced with a magic marker. Right here in the ‘friendly city by the Great Sallt Lake’. We promptly replaced it.

Comment from Anonymous @ 2006.08.24 - 11:23

You do have signs up in Tooele County. And yes they are breaking the sign ordinance. Every time I see them I think that your campaign is thumbing its nose at the law.

Comment from Pete Ashdown @ 2006.08.24 - 11:35

My campaign has repeatedly reminded sign takers to obey local ordinances in regards to sign posting. This has gone as far as us taking down signs that were improperly posted. If you can detail the local ordinance for me, we will contact the owners of the two signs posted in Tooele County to inform them of their mistake. Every county and most cities are different.

I trust you will show a similar measured response in October for signs posted illegally in public areas, they won’t be mine.

Comment from Anonymous @ 2006.08.24 - 13:47

Yes I do think everyone who acts above the law the same.

http://www.co.tooele.ut.us/Campaign_Signs.htm

Comment from Allie @ 2006.08.25 - 15:54

I have a pete ashdown sign in my yard (in north salt lake). I didn’t know it was against the law. I guess I’ll have to look into that.

Comment from Art @ 2006.09.02 - 10:37

If I have read the Salt Lake City sign ordinance and, correct me if I am wrong, political signs are only permitted fro 45 days prior to the election and should be removed within 3 days of the election. That means that signs are only legal starting September 23rd until November 10th. Maybe it is the deparment that is responsible for enforcement of the sign ordinance that is removing the illegal signs.

Comment from Pete Ashdown @ 2006.09.02 - 14:22

Art, that wouldn’t explain the sudden appearance of Republican signs in the same area.

According to the online ordinance, Salt Lake County political signs have no time restriction before the election, only that they are removed 15 days following the final voting day. You may also may be interested in the Draper repeal of an unconstitutional sign ordinance that did restrict when signs could be posted on private property before an election.

Comment from Chadwick @ 2006.09.12 - 15:43

We just received notice from Farmington City that our sign is in violation of the local city ordinance and have been told to remove our sign. We will be notifying the City that its ordinance is unconstitutional and we will point them to the Draper repeal for precident.

Comment from Muck @ 2006.09.16 - 12:37

WOW- Great Idea, the opposition has just started, everyplace his signs are, ours are gone.
Go figure. But, I will pass this info on to the Candidate (Incumbent) who won 70% of the vote 4 years ago….

Comment from Cathy Vitale @ 2006.09.16 - 16:20

Wow, what a plan. I have a horrible time keeping my signs in the yards during campaign season. Last election I lost over 1,000 signs. At three dollars a piece it gets expensive.

This time I am running against an unknown. Every time my sign disappears, his shows up, illegally, I might add, across the street. Go figure.

We have sign laws that prevent illegal use of the County right of ways, but this person (as well as others) does not abide by it.

I like your idea.

Can’t wait to impliment it.

Thanks for listening

Comment from Chelsea O @ 2006.10.17 - 14:13

That is wonderful that we are still pushing forward to get Ashdown’s name out there, despite suspicious sign disappearances!
I was wondering if there is a closer location from which to acquire a sign. I have a house that borders the freeway in Kaysville and would be more than happy to post a sign within view (as soon as I ensure the legality of such, based on user comments).

Sorry, but you are not allowed to comment.

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