It’s election season in Southborough, and you’ve no doubt noticed political signs popping up on front lawns around town. On Thursday you have a chance to meet some of the candidates at the Southborough Library’s annual Candidates Night.
The race for Selectmen is one of only two contested races this year, and both candidates — Daniel Kolenda and Jeffrey Rosenberg — have said they will attend the event. Candidates for other town positions are also expected to be there.
The event will be moderated by Betty Meyer. Residents are encouraged to attend and ask questions, or just listen to what the candidates have to say.
Candidates Night starts at 7:00 pm on Thursday in the Judy Williams Reading Room at the Library. Refreshments will be served.
Town elections will be held on May 9. For a complete list of who’s running, see this post.
I see Mr. Rosenberg’s signs all over Town property. Isn’t this a direct violation of Town policy?
John, I wondered the same thing. Mr. Kolenda’s signs appear to be on lawns of homes and such.
I don’t think we should get too worked up on this matter. The reality is that whether a sign is in front of a house or not it is likely on public property. On newer roads the town owns about 25 ft from the center line which is well beyond the shoulder. The signs have to be well back from the road to be on private property.
Putting signs along the road in places that are not obviously in front of a home is a long standing tradition for better and worse. As far as town policy goes which dept is going to remove the signs of a potential future selectmen? I suspect that no public employees wants to be accused of trying to meddle with an election by removing signs. No, better to let the practice stand. I like the signs it is an indication that we have freedom and choices.
There are signs for both candidates around town, not just Rosenberg.
Lisa,
I have not seen any of Mr Kolenda’s signs on town property either. I have only seen them on privately owned property. I do know that the candidates are told by Town Hall (I called after I posted earlier) that they are not allowed to put their signs on any town property.
I do hope that it was just a supporter of Mr Rosenberg’s that didn’t know any better, and not someone thinking that the rules don’t apply to them. Especially if they are running for office.
I have to disagree with Al on this. Homeowners do put signs on property that’s technically in the town’s roadway, but it’s property they maintain and it’s clearly in front of their houses. Putting signs on public property not close to anyone’s house is not freedom, it’s not a tradition, it’s simply taking the public’s property as if it belongs to you alone. Signs on public property should be accompanied by people holding them, or they shouldn’t be there.
I’ve planted signs for many Democratic and several non-partisan local candidates. I’ve never started the “decoration” of public property with political signs, though I’ve sometimes answered in kind, planting my candidate’s sign next to an illegal sign from a competitor. Otherwise, I don’t plant signs where I don’t have permission.* I’d love to hear a similar pledge from Republicans and independents.
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* Well, there was once when I got the address wrong, but I straightened that out.
This goes on in every contested race across this Commonwealth, even some not contested, the next complaint is typically signs being “unlawfully” taken down, the inference of course is that the opposition is up to dirt tricks.
Perhaps some slight flexibility might be tolerated for signs that are placed that might encroach on town property in front of an individual’s house, but clearly signs should not be located on any open space or roadway shoulders, at intersections, or other publicly-owned locations that have no real affiliation with an abutting residence or business. Candidates or their supporters should be held responsible to monitor the locations of their signs, and, I agree, their inattention regarding this issue should reflect negatively on the candidate’s suitabilty to serve as a public official.