Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs…

Collin County Election Signs on Preston Road in Plano

What I am about to say is probably something many of you have thought one time or another when election time comes around. You’re driving down a major road and it’s almost impossible to ignore the multitude of local, county and state political signs. The land that houses them has probably never seen so many variations of red, white and blue as springtime during an election year. This year, especially, with many having a renewed sense of pride, passion and concern for our freedoms and rights as Americans, there are more citizens running for office – a very necessary and positive movement. For the record, I am very much against eliminating term limits, or increasing the length of time that elected officials can stay in office. They risk becoming complacent and forget about what the people who put them in office want. I like knowing they have to “reapply” for their “job”. I read recently that politicians in Washington are constantly in campaign mode – that makes it really difficult to “jump right in” and accomplish what they said they would during the last campaign. Yep, that’s a whole different blog!

I’m just going to say it: we need to put the kibosh on political yard signs – all of them in their colorful-corrugated-plastic-and- wire-stakes-glory.

We are in a new era. Social media is rapidly changing the way businesses market themselves, and the same can be said of politicians. Does it cost money to market online? In many cases, yes. But you don’t have to kill a tree (or a small forest in some cases) to do it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I’ve got a unique perspective on this topic because my husband was a former Frisco City Council member having served 6 years before being termed out in May 2008. We have friends and acquaintances running for office now and certainly don’t pass judgment because they have signs up. That’s not what this is about.

I have 3 very valid reasons to nix political signs.

Here goes:

1) Safety. Besides obvious curb appeal in neighborhoods and high traffic roads, it will keep people from being distracted while driving. I don’t know about you, but because many more people are starting to wake up and be active on the political front, there are a lot more candidates for their respective offices. This means motorists slowing down to fixate on “who’s-running-for-what” is more evident and increases odds for accidents.

2) Environment. It’s good for our planet. Most signs are wooden, cardboard or even worse, plastic. One candidate who put his hat in the ring for Frisco ISD School Board a few years ago ran a green campaign. He didn’t use any signs but opted to reach out to voters in alternate ways, such as a stronger online presence and more face-to-face meetings with voters.

3) Frugality. For candidates, the pressure to feel like they have to raise ridiculous amounts of money will be lessened. Signs can be expensive – believe me, I know first hand. It has been said “he/she who spends the most money wins.” Getting rid of signs keeps candidates on a level playing field. Many times, the majority of a campaign’s funds go towards printing signs. Knowing your opponent won’t be outspending you on yard signs is very positive. Now, I realize this effects those who make the signs, but I really feel the “pros” for not allowing them far outweigh that argument. For most campaigns, there will always be direct mail pieces and flyers in the media mix to educate the voting public, so hopefully additional revenue can be generated that way.

Look, I get top of mind awareness and candidate branding opportunities when people drive past the signs. I’ve spent 20 years in media with most of that in advertising sales. I do believe you have a better chance of getting people to remember to vote when they see the campaign yard signs, so I’d be open to the idea of allowing the same number and size of signs for all candidates only at major intersections during the timeframe of early voting until Election Day. There – that’s my compromise.

This is 2010. Our natural resources are waning. Let’s get rid of the “old school” way of thinking when it comes to campaigning and make candidates step up their efforts online and in other grass-roots initiatives to talk about the issues. It’s a sign of the times. Pun intended.