It’s that time of year again. Baseball playoffs? No, although the Mets are doing nicely in their post season run. Steve Cohen must be happy! What then, you may ask? Political yard signs.
Why is it every year they seem to go up earlier and earlier? Our understanding is that there is an agreement between the Democratic and Republican party leadership in town that they will not place lawn signs on public property until two weeks before the election. How we wish they would honor that agreement.
Who among us has not driven around the Lake Avenue circle during campaign season and almost driven off the road because we are reading lawn signs? You will find no greater champion of free speech than a newspaper, and especially ours, however when does it become sight pollution?
Let’s delve deeper into that concept. Yes, campaigns should put up yard signs on private property and on public property, but let’s be reasonable. We would never advocate telling a property owner what they can or cannot do on their property if it conforms with appropriate zoning. However, using public property as campaign billboards long before an election is too much.
When we drive around the Lake Avenue circle, we want to see the signs for the various fall events happening throughout town. And there are many – especially for the next few weeks.
We thought this year would be different. We were wrong. Political yard signs appeared overnight on many high-traffic town owned properties. However, the most egregious we have seen were at the intersection of North Maple and the Post Road, where the crocuses bloom letting us know, spring is arriving. It is also where a veteran’s memorial is located. To us, and many others, this is an inappropriate location to place yard signs. First Selectman Fred Camillo has asked that they be removed. We agree, however they remain firmly planted by memorial to our veterans.
Which brings us to another point. Now that we have embarked on the political season, we implore all candidates to run on their record. Tearing your opponent down through negative campaigning or personal attacks is not running on your record.
That concept may seem to benefit the incumbent, but it really does not. Everyone has a record. It can be volunteerism, work, public service, being a parent, etc. Talk about why you are running, what makes you qualified for the office you seek. Simply running a negative campaign never works in Greenwich. The voters have never tolerated it. After all, when the election is over, we all still live in this town and see each other in the grocery store and post office. The intensity of the campaign will have abated but how you greet your neighbors remains.
A piece of unsolicited advice to everyone running for office; you will be more successful taking the high road than the low road. It was Mark Twain who said, “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Yes, we want political debate. We want to know the difference between candidates. We want to make educated decisions about who is going to represent us. We just want to do so without being yelled at or misinformed. After all, we (who live here in Greenwich) are a pretty informed populace. We tend to see through the hyperbole. We do not respond to the negative campaigning. So, we ask those running for office to treat us with the same respect you are asking us to place in you.
This election season we are looking for reasoned, educated candidates who will address the needs of our community and our state with thoughtful leadership and ideas. And we are hoping the political signs at the veteran’s memorial will be taken down. Thank you.
