Date: Fri 01-Nov-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-signs-election

Full Text:

with photo: Candidate Signs In Newtown Are A Political No-No

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

If you have driven through Bethel, Brookfield or New Milford during recent

election seasons, you have probably noticed thickets of political signs

scattered along the roads. You won't find any in Newtown.

According to Earl J. Smith, the town's Democratic party leader, there is an

unofficial agreement between the two parties that there are to be no signs put

up.

Marie Sturdevant, an administrative assistant in the first selectman's office,

called it a "gentleman's agreement where nobody puts them up."

In fact, many believe putting up political signs in Newtown could actually

cost a candidate votes.

For years, Newtown's zoning laws did not allow political signs to be put up,

but, according to Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Nicholson, a recent State

Supreme Court decision stated that due to freedom of speech laws, towns can

not stop candidates from putting up the signs.

However, as Borough Zoning Officer Jean St Jean points out, political signs

are not addressed in the current zoning regulations, so they are not allowed.

"No one has ever come in and asked for a sign permit," she said. "They are

allowed in the party headquarters, though."

Mrs St Jean said she's not sure what she'd do if she spotted a political sign

up along Main Street. "I'd have to check with the Borough Board," she said.

Mr Smith said aggressive out-of-town candidates have sought to put up signs

along Newtown's streets in the past, but have been told to refrain.

Last year, Route 7 was littered with political signs during New Milford's

mayoral race between Liba Fuhrman and Art Peitler. While some felt the signs

were an eye sore before the election, they really disliked the signs still up

more than a week after the voting was over.

Two years ago, two signs promoting candidates were put up on Main Street near

Ram's pasture but were quickly taken down.