Signs Of Foul Play Political Posters Vandalized

The primary election is less than a week away, and as the races heat up, so does the battle over campaign signs. Several of Gov. Brewer's political posters were vandalized Tuesday night. Someone stenciled offensive comments on several signs across town.

The city, which enforces campaign sign rules, says this one is out of their jurisdiction.

"If somebody's vandalizing that's a civil issue between who's doing it and whose property it is," said Tucson Code Enforcement administrator Teresa Williams, "we would not get involved."

According to Tucson law, all political signs must be placed on private property, and out of the right-of-way.

While the vandalized Brewer signs have been voluntarily removed, another candidate says his signs disappeared involuntarily. Frank Antenori claims city workers wrongly took movie posters from 5 different intersections.

"The city was taking our signs and claiming they were in the right of way when actually in the way when they weren't," he said.

All signs in violation go to an impound lot and the campaigns are notified where they can pick them up. Antenori was notified, but denies his signs were ever in violation, saying his campaign even surveyed land before placing them.

"We have a limited number of people who have been trained to put our signs, we don't just have people out there throwing signs up," he said, "We are making an effort to make sure those signs are place legally and outside the right of way."

Williams says that's not the case.

"I'm only aware of one sign that we took that was right on the edge of the property line that we took that was Mr. Antenori's," she said, "and it was inches from the property line and we explained that we would return that sign."

Antenori says the email apology he received from City Manager Mike Letcher isn't enough.

"The reality is they broke the law," said Antenori, "Either the city broke the law or the city employee on his own broke the law and I want it dealt with."

Meanwhile, Williams advises every resident to leave signs where they are, and let city officials handle any complaints.

"Citizens should not be removing signs because it is not their sign, they have no permission to do it," she said.

August 19, 2010