Candidates already ignoring the rules

Ever since a week passed after the primary election I have been wondering when our highways would once again be free from candidate’s campaign signs.

Having been a candidate for public office, I am very familiar with the rules governing the display of campaign signs which appear in the Flathead County Election Department’s Candidate’s Manual.

The manual clearly states, “Signs cannot be put up earlier than 30 days prior to the election. Signs must be removed no later than one week after the election.”

There is a provision for obtaining a permit from the Flathead Planning and Zoning Office if the signs are larger than 32 square feet, of if they are going to be up for an extended period. As of the writing of this letter, (July 27) there is no record of any candidate obtaining such a permit.

When I continually see political campaign signs around the valley that are clearly in violation of the Flathead County Election Department’s Candidate’s Manual, I have to wonder what other rules these candidates might ignore if they should be elected, and what expectations their supporters may have for them if the supporters are the ones responsible for allowing the signs to remain on their private property.

Edd Blackler,

Bigfork