Candidates’ signs problems arise

Lolita Harper

Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Touting council candidates,

breaking out fights.

Debates surrounding campaign signs -- where they are placed or

mysteriously removed from -- are common every election year and this

one is no different. At least three of the five candidates for Costa

Mesa City Council have encountered problems with their signs and are

upset as a result.

Incumbent Gary Monahan, who has gotten creative with his

promotional material by handing out magnetic car signs, ran into a

unusual sign dilemma this campaign season.

The owner of a single-family home near the corner of 22nd Street

and Orange Avenue had suspended a large Monahan banner between two

70-feet palm trees. According to a memorandum from the City

Attorney’s Office, an unnamed council candidate complained to code

enforcement about the towering promotion, which loomed about 60 feet

in the air.

Monahan said he was surprised another candidate would go to such

lengths.

“The residents don’t complain, so a candidate has to complain,”

Monahan said. “There are political signs all over the public

[property] yet [someone] is complaining about this. It’s all too

political.”

Building official Rick Brown asked for the city’s legal opinion on

the matter before sending code enforcement officers to the house.

Marianne Reger, senior deputy city attorney, wrote political

banners are permitted on commercial property without size or number

limitations but are limited to 5 square feet for homes.

The Monahan banner was 3 feet by 8 feet. Code enforcement officers

visited the home and ordered the owners to take it down.

Mayor Linda Dixon has run into a more common campaign season sign

quandary: disappearing signs.

“It’s like people think there is a limited edition of Dixon for

reelection signs,” she joked.

Dixon said she realizes sign theft is common during election time,

but was irate Saturday morning to find a large promotional banner of

hers slashed on the corner of Orange Avenue and 17th Street.

Candidate Allan Mansoor has also reported many of his signs have

been stolen or defaced.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at [email protected].