Yard signs have been a part of American politics since the invention of campaigns — and yards.
Some see yard signs as vastly overrated, while others insist they are an indispensable tool in shaping perception among voters.
Either way, if a candidate chooses to use yard signs — especially a veteran sitting lawmaker like Lisa Montelione — they had better understand the rules of the game.
The Tampa City Councilwoman is currently running as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison in House District 63.
On Tuesday afternoon, Tampa code enforcement officials were spotted removing an illegal Montelione yard sign from a New Tampa Publix parking lot.
While that is bad enough, making it even more inexcusable was the 8’ x 4’ sign was in Montelione’s own district. She never bothered to get permission, and the sign was too large for city code.
It’s never good for any candidate to have an unforced error over yard signs. Just ask Gainesville Republican Keith Perry, the Senate candidate who recently got into a scuffle with a person removing one of his yard signs.
While Perry’s case involved a simple disagreement over personal taste, Montelione’s situation demonstrates a possible ignorance of the rules in a community she seeks to represent.
That’s not a good sign — no pun intended — for someone who clearly should know better.
