Clearwater Candidates Debate Politics of Campaign Yard Signs

CLEARWATER, FL — As Clearwater's March 17 city election approaches, at least one candidate is taking exception to the inevitable barrage of campaign yard signs lining the city's streets.

Councilman Bob Cundiff, who is running for reelection to Seat 3, said he won't be using any yard signs to promote his candidacy this year.

“Yard signs are made of a type of all-weather plastic that can last up to 1,000 years,” said Cundiff. Not only are the masses of campaign signs lining Clearwater's streets an eyesore, they're bad for the environment, he said.

He said several of the 13 mayoral and council candidates are running on environmental platforms.

“It’s hypocritical,” said Cundiff. "How can a candidate on one hand claim to be concerned with open green spaces and the environment, and then plant hundreds of unsightly yard signs on busy streets and in neighborhoods?"

If previous elections are any indication, Cundiff said candidates rarely retrieve their yard signs after the election is over, leaving city workers to collect the old yard signs.

Cundiff said he decided at the outset of his campaign in November that he would not use yard signs, and challenged other candidates to follow his example.

“As a longtime Clearwater resident, I want our city to remain beautiful without the muddle of thousands of yard signs, even for the duration of the campaigning,” Cundiff said. “Candidates had to make a choice: Do what’s in the best interest of fellow citizens or do what’s best for your political interests. I made my choice.”

At least one of Cundiff's opponents for the council seat concurs.

"I haven’t put out any yard signs either. I agree that they have been are way overdone by some candidates," said Bruce Rector, who's also running for Seat 3.

Vying to replace Mayor George Cretekos, who must step down due to term limits, Frank Hibbard acknowledged that masses of campaign signs are unsightly.

"I asked everyone to wait until Jan. 2nd to not clutter the city during the holidays and all agreed to comply except one candidate," he said. "I appreciate Dr. Cundiff’s position but they are an unfortunate part of campaigns."

Scott Thomas, also vying for Cundiff's seat on the council, said he finds Cundiff declaration ironic.

"Bob Cundiff recently told the Tampa Bay Times that he doesn’t believe that humans have any effect on the environment or climate change," he said.

Nevertheless, Thomas said Cundiff makes a valid point.

"I’m very concerned that some candidates who claim to be environmental experts are using plastic signs and have filled the city with them," he said. "I have limited my amount of signs to be cautious of the environment and eyesore that they can become for residents."

"That makes me chuckle," said Seat 2 council candidate Mark Bunker when he read Cundiff statement about foregoing yard signs. "One of the two candidates in the race (along with Bud Elias) who doesn’t believe that human activity is driving climate change feels his opponents’ yard signs are a huge problem. Ignoring climate change is even more dangerous than ignoring the presence of Scientology downtown, another issue Dr. Bob can’t seem to believe is real."

Mayoral candidate and environmental advocate Elizabeth "Sea Turtle" Drayer lauded Cundiff for his stance.

"Kudos to Councilman Cundiff for his efforts to reduce waste," said Drayer. "At the outset of my campaign, I planned to forego yard signs as well for the same reason. Everyone advising me said this would be a huge mistake since opponents with name recognition would have a big advantage."

She said she finally compromised by ordering "a small number of signs."

"The fact is plastics are everywhere and eliminating them won’t happen overnight," said Drayer. "For example, I can’t stop brushing my teeth because toothbrushes are plastic. The goal is to incentivize biodegradable alternatives and reduce single-use plastics as much as possible. Yard signs can be reused for many purposes, like your next yard sale."

That's what Seat 3 council candidate Kathleen Beckman plans to do with her signs once the election is over.

"We have a great plan for collecting and repurposing our campaign signs," Beckman said. "We have a large team of volunteers and supporters who are planning to use these signs in a wide variety of new projects. They will not be dumped in a landfill. I'm very proud of the detailed tracking that we have. With over 100 volunteers, we are committed to collecting our signs and reusing them in environmentally friendly ways."

Seat 2 council candidate Mike Mannino said he finds it interesting that this is the issue on which Cundiff has chosen to take an environmental posture.

"It is interesting how he (Cundiff) has taken his financial-based decision and spun it into an environmental political position," said Mannino. "Speaking of hypocrisy, the past four years in leadership has granted him many opportunities to champion his environmental passions and his lack of strength or environmental responsibility drowns out his name-calling."

Mannino, who's been endorsed by the Sierra Club, said his campaign team has meticulously recorded the addresses of every yard sign that's been posted for his campaign.

"Our volunteers have not placed any illegal or unauthorized signs," he said. "Furthermore, we began our campaign with a recycle program and a retrieval sign pick up on the 20th of March. Yard signs, while not blue-bin recyclable, present options to recycle like paint and personalize, DIY storage boxes and basket liners."

Seat 3 council candidate Chester "Bud" Elias said he doesn't see a problem as long as candidates are diligent about retrieving the signs after the election.

"Bob is correct- the signs are an eyesore," said Elias. "However, when most of the candidates elect to use the yard signs, no one wants to be missing in action. I will assure you we will make every effort to pick up the yard signs the day after the election."

Mayoral candidate Bill Johnson said the issue must be weighed against the First Amendment.

"I have always been concerned with the visual appearance of Clearwater," he said. "At the same time, I recognize the rights for free speech of our citizens. Accordingly, I have supported the existing Clearwater sign code that balances these objectives. The day after election I have always gone around picking up my yard signs to recycle."

Agreeing that using plastic campaign signs runs counter to the city's efforts to go green, Seat 2 council candidate Lina Teixeira searched around and found an alternative -- a natural fiber board that is biodegradable.

She said she's the only candidate who is using environmentally friendly yard signs.