Fairfax, Virginia Published: Friday, December 23, 2011 Bipartisan agreement on political signs
I agree with Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity’s effort to put an end to the blight of political signs in our medians and roadways <“Steps must be taken to get rid of illegal signs,” Dec. 2-4, 2011>. This past election cycle was one of the worst in memory, with candidates from both parties filling the medians with wall-to-wall signs. The signs started appearing in late spring and never went away following the August primary. They multiplied continuously through the November election. Often the signs for a single candidate would be so plentiful in a short distance that they were reminiscent of signs leading to some kitschy roadside joint. Even candidates who were unopposed erected large signs on the public landscape. Herrity cited the driving hazards, the costs to taxpayers for public workers who must remove signs for routine maintenance, the conflict with Virginia’s statutes that elected officials swear to uphold, and bizarre enforcement barriers passed by some long ago General Assembly targeting only Fairfax County’s local government authority. I would add Fairfax should just be better than what we have seen, with thousands of ugly signs in the public right-of-way. I call on all General Assembly members and the county supervisors from both parties in Fairfax to give this issue prompt attention. There will be no better time than now to address this issue with almost the maximum time period before the next election cycle begins. Although the opinions in this letter are my own, I currently serve as the chair of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee. I think a lot of Democrats, Republicans and independents will agree with Herrity and me. Rex Simmons, Fairfax Station
