Document text
Ashland considers liberalizing rules governing election signs By DANI DODGE Meeting is Tuesday Who : Ashland City Council What : Council meeting. Agenda includes an increase in the length of time campaign signs can be around town, an ordinance removing the restriction on the number of taxi cabs in the city, and discussion of transit issues. When : 7 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting starts with a study session on the transit issues at 6 p.m. and moves to a regular televised meeting at 7 for other items. Where : Civic Center council chambers. ASHLAND -- Campaign signs could be popping up around Ashland earlier than ever before this election season. City recorder Barbara Christensen is suggesting the Ashland City Council make a code change that would allow signs to start showing up on lawns six weeks before election day. The previous limit in Ashland was a month. Medford has no restriction on the length of time campaign signs can be set up. "This came at the request of individuals who have sought elections in the past and felt they weren't able to reach those voting early," said Christensen. "By the time they put up their signs and started campaigning these people had already voted." The possible code change will go to the council on Tuesday. But Councilwoman Susan Reid expressed concern about the early proliferation of campaign signs. "I do have supporters who won't even accept lawn signs because it's a blight on the community," Reid said. "I don't want to be hypocritical -- I've put up signs three times -- but I don't know if I'm for expanding the length of time for it to be up, and I'm looking for public feedback." County elections deputy Donna Connor said the county sends out mail-in ballots 18 days before an election. Those who are out of town can get their ballots 45 days before the election. Of the county's 103,000 or so voters, the county mails out about 1,000 ballots early to people who are out of the area on a long-term basis, Connor said. Probably fewer than 100 people pick up their ballots early because they are going on short vacations during the election period. Christensen said the code change would bring Ashland's time limit more in line with the newly required mail-in voting in Oregon. "It encompasses more than just our little city elections," she noted. "Our ordinance affects larger-scope individuals -- it could be state representatives, or someone campaigning for the president." Barbara Ryberg, who is leading the campaign to expand and renovate the city's library, said she doesn't know if the proposed code change would affect the timing of her group's lawn signs. "It's difficult to decide how valuable a lawn sign is, but we will probably be using them," she said. "But 45 days seems like a long time." Councilman David Fine said he can see both sides of the issue. "I'm not thrilled to have visual pollution and clutter longer than now," he said. "But with the move to an all mail-in ballot, it may be necessary." He, like Reid, said he wants to hear a debate on the issue. "One of the nice things about Ashland is we do regulate signs -- we don't allow flashing neon although we do allow sign orchards to spring up on every vacant lot during an election," he said. "It's a necessary evil, but I'd like to see it contained as much as possible. It does nothing to contribute to the ambiance of the town." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA