With the municipal election only a short time away, the city is becoming inundated with election signs.
It happens every three years (now four). Cities across our fair province become littered with signs as candidates jockey for position on crowded yards near major roads.
The effectiveness of signs can certainly be debated. They can be eye catching and may just turn a undecided voter, but they can also be an eye sore with their ubiquity and generally plain facade.
Signs range from small and unobtrusive to billboard sized and impossible to miss. One candidate bucks the trend my putting his sign on top of his van and driving around.
Of course, for whatever reason election signs tend to be magnets for vandalism. Whether it’s someone who is against a candidate or just young hooligans, every campaign you hear about signs being stolen and/or damaged.
Signs are not cheap, particularly if you want multiple colours and a professional looking job. This certainly could mean that some less affluent candidates may be left out in the cold when it comes to signs.
Perhaps it’s time for Grand Forks to follow the lead of Whistler which bucked the election sign trend by banning the signs altogether. All 11 candidates there agreed not to put up any signs this election with some stating the environmental aspect and others saying they’re just a costly hassle.
Of course, that would mean that all our candidates would have to agree on the same thing. What are the chances of that?