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60 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, September 17, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 28, 2004 Signs favoring Republican candidates Jim Wright and C.W. Smith are prominent on the corner of Hillcrest and Black Oak in Medford. Harder to see is the sign for Democratic presidendential candidate John Kerry, in the shrubs on the right. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Your name here ... and here Campaign signs are dotting the Jackson County landscape — frustrating residents and forcing officials to issue rule reminders By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Political lawn signs have sprouted across Jackson County, but for most communities they’re too early in the season. "They shouldn’t go up until Sept. 2," cautioned Betty Smith, Phoenix city recorder. Phoenix prohibits signs within 60 days prior to an election and requires the signs be taken down five days afterward. "We had somebody call and complain that signs were up too early," she said. Most communities have ordinances limiting the time the signs can be displayed during the political season. Homeowners are warned when there are complaints. Advertisement Medford and Jackson County, however, don’t have any ordinances prohibiting political lawn signs. "The city of Medford does not specifically regulate political signs as to when they can go up," stated an e- mail from the city recorder’s office. "We encourage candidates to put them up in a timely manner and take them down quickly after the election." Homeowners do face some restrictions in Medford. They must place signs behind the sidewalk and not allow them to extend beyond the curb if there isn’t a sidewalk. County Clerk Kathy Beckett said the county doesn’t regulate when signs go up or down. "As soon as the election is over we ask that people take them down, but there is no time limit," she said. Beckett said she’s noticed an abundance of signs around the county. "It seems like a lot earlier this year than ever before," she said. Like communities, the county doesn’t want signs in public rights of way, on utility poles, or on trees on public property. Also, candidates must have the permission of a property owner before they can place a sign. The Oregon Department of Transportation prohibits any signs on state highway rights of way and strictly enforces the law. Beckett said every city in the valley has a different ordinance regarding political lawn signs. Jacksonville appears to have the most restrictive, allowing signs only within 30 days prior to the election and requiring they be removed seven days afterward. They also can’t be bigger than four square feet. Eagle Point isn’t far behind, allowing signs up 30 days before and 10 days after the election. Central Point residents, on the other hand, have more flexibility. Community planner Dave Alvord said Central Point officials are telling candidates that signs can go up 90 days before the election and must come down 10 days afterwards. Alvord said the most popular sign in Central Point at the moment seems to be Kerry/Edwards. "That’s the one I’ve seen the most," he said. Around the county, however, signs for Republicans C.W. Smith and Jim Wright dominate so far. Talent doesn’t specify when a sign should go up, but City Manager Betty Wheeler said they must be removed 10 days following an election. She said there has been so much confusion about when to put up signs that the city did away with setting a limit beforehand. Ashland City Recorder Barbara Christensen said the city has received about a half-dozen complaints over signs. Ashland’s ordinance allows signs 45 days before an election and seven days after. "The soonest anyone can put up a sign is Sept. 18," she said. "There shouldn’t be any out there." Christensen, like many city officials, wasn’t sure what the fine would be if somebody didn’t take down their sign when requested to do so by the city. "I don’t know that we’ve ever fined anybody," she said. What goes up ... MUST come down Rules regarding when political lawn signs may be put up and when they must be taken down vary by city and county: Ashland : 45 days before the election, 7 days after. Butte Falls : Officials could not be reached Friday. Central Point: 90 days before, 10 days after. Eagle Point: 30 days before, 10 days after. Gold Hill: no limit, but city can deem them a nuisance if left up after election. Jackson County: no limit. Jacksonville: 30 days before, seven days after. Medford: no limit. Phoenix: 60 days before, 5 days after. Talent: no limit before, 10 days after. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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