Follow-Up: Illegal Campaign Signs

You see them just about everywhere: Outside a business, on the corner, maybe even in your own yard. But is your campaign sign legal? Some signs point to no.

"This is what the community has asked for. That's what we expect” says Allen County Democratic Chair Mike Bynum.

Yesterday, FOX Fort Wayne reported that a few candidates appear to be breaking the city's sign ordinance. According to the ordinance, if campaign signs are on a residential property, they can't be more than 12 square feet.

We found both Republicans and Democrats that appear to be disregarding the law.

"Any of our candidates that would have any signs that was not in compliance, I have spoken to their campaign to make sure that they are in compliance because this is a city-wide ordinance as well as something that the community has asked for and we expect compliance from everyone” says Bynum.

Republicans have done the same. The Allen County Republican Party sent out a letter to all their candidates. The letter states to "remove completely or relocate" any signs not in compliance.

But today FOX Fort Wayne found that only some of the candidates have followed through.

A Democratic sign, which is 32-square-feet, sat in front of a house on Bass Road, but today tons of smaller signs have taken its place.

"The signs here are well within the parameters of the guidelines” said State Representative candidate Bob Morris yesterday.

Paula Hughes has a Bob Morris sign in her yard. Hughes' is an Allen County Council member and Fort Wayne mayoral candidate. The sign is 15 square feet and Hughes' property is residential. Today we found the sign still in her yard.

Yesterday, Hughes told fox fort Wayne that the sign debate is simply a distraction.

"I think there are much bigger issues that we should be talking about” said Hughes.

But Bynum says "it has nothing to do with issues. The parties are responsible that their candidates are complying with the wishes of the community."

We knocked on Hughes' door today but she wasn't home. She has yet to call us back. No formal complaint has been filed.

"They do deserve time to make sure they come in compliance just like everybody” says Bynum

Offenders can be fined $25-to-300-per-day for violating the sign ordinance. So candidates may have a big price to pay for their big signs.