Even though I am not running for office this year, I caught two of my kids lounging in their two-year-old campaign T-shirts tonight. They said it was a coincidence that they both put them on, but I wonder if it is the fall air…campaigns are always on my family member’s minds this time of year. Three of my kids don’t remember, or only barely remember, the time before I was a council member.
The yard sign campaigns are a unique and sometimes entertaining aspect of overall political campaigns. Finding legitimate and approved locations, and then fastening the signs in so that they are sturdy and visible, but not interfering is not always as easy as it seems.
No candidate ever wins because of their yard signs, but if you don’t have any it can really hurt your name recognition and your campaign. So it’s always good for a candidate to find a few dedicated sign staff, and a team of part-time helpers.
About ten years ago the US supreme court declared public right-of-ways to be legitimate zones for political freedom of expression, so many candidates focus their signs on the city easements around major intersections, creating what we frequently refer to as “sign farms.” Occasionally, these will get hit by city brush cutting equipment or random vandals, who will destroy all the signs, and necessitate that each campaign to come out and make repairs or install replacements. Political newcomers will often take it personally when this happens, but more often than not the sign was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time…I’ve never actually seen a campaign removing the other’s signs.
The best sign locations are actually on private property, because they tell surrounding owners and visitors that the candidate has won an endorsement as well as providing name recognition. But sometimes the lines between public and private property are hard to distinguish without a survey, so the whole picture gets messy.
I enjoyed spotting this sign tonight, next to one of Denis Law’s yard signs. This is the first such sign like this that I have seen in 14 years, but I bet it won’t be the last…it seems like a good idea. Yard signs tend to reproduce if placed in a greenbelt that may appear to be public property.
Believe it or not, some of my most fun campaign memories are riding around with other campaign workers, putting up yard signs. The actual installation can be laborious, but the camaraderie and conversations are often the best I’ve ever had. And it is a little like cruising Renton…but with a mission. If you have never done this before, consider volunteering to help with a sign campaign for your favorite candidate sometime. You may decide you really like it.
Dear Editor,
I think it’s important that we get the facts straight on what happened at
the council meeting that spurred Dan Clawson’s frivolous law suit, which
will now cost the taxpayers astronomical amounts of public funds so he can
vent his frustration about a vote that he didn’t like.
The entire issue was being discussed because Master Builders Association,
which represents most of the builders in the region, felt they did not
have adequate input into the new design standards that was about to become law
in Renton.
Marcie Palmer made a suggestion that we postpone our final vote in order
To convene a meeting to address these concerns. Dan Clawson then launched
Into a tirade against Marcie and MBA, which became an argument between Dan,
Terri Briere and myself, when I voiced my concerns about Dan’s abrupt attack on
Marcie and MBA. Before the council could complete its discussion on Marcie’s
request, Dan cut off further debate by forcing a vote on the ordinance, which was then not approved.
This situation reminds me once again of the Highlands meeting, where the
public were shut down from the discussion when they wanted to participate.
What is so wrong about making sure we listen to the people involved before
making law? Isn’t that our job?
While in actuality, the majority of the council approves of the ordinance,
we wanted the concerns raised by MBA to be resolved. Open government
requires open discussion and welcoming input, dissent, and questions from
the council members, the public, and the parties involved in the issue.
Dan forced the council to vote on the ordinance before we could complete
discussion on Marcie Palmer’s request for a little more time before taking
the final vote. Had he not interfered with the simple process of
deliberating over a request, there would have been no forced vote, a
meeting would have been convened and the issue resolved, and a vote taken the
following week or so. What was the rush?
Acting as his own attorney, Clawson is able to file frivolous suits
Without a real financial impact. Renton citizens are already paying an outside
law firm to defend us against his outrageous complaints, which could mount
into hundreds of thousands like the recent case in Shoreline.
I implore Dan Clawson to reconsider his actions and face the facts on his
motivation behind this charade. Renton deserves open government, open
discussion, and council members who respect and appreciate input from
others. Filing suit from political motivations or an angry reaction to a
vote at the cost to our taxpayers is deplorable.
Randy Corman
Renton City Council Position #1
According to nojets.org, Mayor Jesse Tanner tried to keep the airport quiet and neighborly, and we need to keep this focus.
Fortunately, the issue will finally be resolved by Boeing leasing the property in question, as long as my council colleagues continue to support this new direction.
For complete history on this issue, CLICK HERE!
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