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Is public property theplace for election signs?By Kim ArnottSPECIAL TO THE BEAVER

Are election signs messy,but important indicators of avital democracy? Or wastefuland out-of-control eyesoresthat block sight lines andendanger public safety?

Oakville councillorsargued both sides of thatposition when a proposedban on election signs ontown property was consid-ered by the town’sAdministrative Servicescommittee on Tuesdaynight.

Under the proposal,brought forward as part of apackage of updates to thetown’s Sign Bylaw, electionsigns would still be allowedon private property butwould be banned on publiclands owned by the town andregion.

That would put an end tothe often large collection of signs that sprout up alongtown roadways and at busystreet corners during everyelection campaign.

Burlington andMississauga have imposedsimilar bans on electionsigns on public property.

Although the committeevoted 4-2 to defeat the pro-posal, the arguments willlikely be rehashed with equalpassion at next Monday’scouncil meeting.

Opponents of the bansuggested that the signs arean important part of thedemocratic process and freespeech, and allow political

newcomers to build namerecognition among the elec-torate.

“Incumbents have anadvantage in elections byname recognition,” saidJanet Haslett-Theall, presi-dent of the Joshua CreekResidents’ Association, whoargued that the signs shouldbe allowed for the benefit of political newcomers.

Mayor Rob Burton agreed,saying, “I cannot be com-fortable voting for raisingbarriers for challengers.”

But Ward 5 councillorJeff Knoll argued that get-ting the signs off publicproperty would simply be areasonable restriction, inkeeping with many otherrestrictions imposed on howelections are conducted.

“We put lots and lots of controls on what you canand can’t do during an elec-tion process,” he argued.“Good governance includesregulation.”

Knoll also suggested aban could benefit challeng-ers more than incumbents,as newcomers have a moredifficult time raising cash topurchase signs and rallyingvolunteers to install them.

The proposal was alsosupported by Ward 2 coun-

cillor Cathy Duddeck, who said she believes the signs create safety concerns when they obstruct sightlines or blow over, and are also a source of dissension among candidates and a target for vandals.

“It’s become somewhat of an election game,” she said, noting the candidates are often trying to ‘top’ one another by building taller signs, which can effectively result in a virtual wall of signs at some intersections.

As part of the package of proposed changes to the Sign Bylaw, councillors were urged to reconsider the town’s ban on the use of colour on mobile signs.

Lawyer Scott Snider, who spoke on behalf of Advantage Signs, said the decade-old ban appeared to be imposed as a way of ridding the town of large fluorescent letters on mobile signs.

However, new technology has allowed for the creation of full-colour signs that are at least as attractive as the black and white models cur-rently permitted, he said.

“Our complaint with the current bylaw is that it is using a sledgehammer pro-hibition to crack a fluores-cent lettering nut,” he argued, suggesting the town could simply ban the uses it doesn’t want, not all colour on mobile signs.

The proposed new Sign Bylaw will be considered by the full Oakville council on Monday June 20.

“I cannot becomfortable voting forraising barriers for challengers.”

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton