BY ANGELA T. KOENIG
Enquirer Contributor
CHEVIOT -- A debate over the display of political signs isn't likely to be settled until after the November elections.
"After the political fervor . . . then we can look at it reasonably," said Councilwoman Kitty Zech, chairwoman of the city's laws and rules committee.
After almost two years in discussion, council passed an ordinance this year that restricts -- in residential areas -- the size of political signs and the time period in which they can be displayed. The restrictions are:
Signs for a November election cannot be displayed until after Labor Day. For all other elections, the ban is in place until 45 days before to the election.
For all elections, signs must come down within seven days after the vote.
Signs can be no be larger than 45 by 30 inches, unless it is a billboard. A violation is a minor misdemeanor and carries a $100 fine.
The ordinance was called into question in early August, when a handful of signs went up. No one was cited, but council placed the issue back in its laws and rules committee at the request of Councilwoman Kathy Godel on Aug. 18. Ms. Godel said the ordinance violates freedom of speech.
Many communities have similar laws, and legal opinions differ on their constitutionality.
City Law Director Mark Waters said he believes the ordinance is legally sound; however, he said he thinks it is timing, not the restrictions, that caused the problem. For example, Mr. Waters said, one candidate's signs -- which exceeded size restrictions and had to come down -- were printed before the ordinance was passed.
"This is the first year that it went into effect, so people were unaware" of the ordinance, Mr. Waters said.
Ms. Zech said the majority of calls she's getting are from people who don't want to see any political signs, ever.
"We can't and don't want to do that, that would be denying (those who want signs) their rights, " Ms. Zech said.
The ordinance remains in effect, Mr. Waters said, "unless some member of the community wants to challenge it by a lawsuit."
