A proliferation of political signs during election times may
come to an end in San Juan Bautista before the November general
election.
A proliferation of political signs during election times may come to an end in San Juan Bautista before the November general election.
As a whole, San Benito County has very few restrictions concerning the size, shape and prevalence of political signs. Because San Juan Bautista is an independent entity, the City Council can place its own restrictions within the city, City Manager Larry Cain said.
“(An ordinance) may happen; it certainly will be discussed,” he said. “It could be in place before the November election.”
In the county, a sign cannot be larger than 32 square feet and can be placed no sooner than 90 days prior to the election and must be removed within 10 days after the election, said John Hodges, county clerk/recorder.
“We receive complaints as to how big they are,” Hodges said. “If you’re on (private) property, you can have a sign as big as a billboard.”
In San Juan Bautista, which survives on tourism and the quaint, historical ambiance of its old-fashioned appeal, copious political signs stashed around the town are a detriment, San Juan Bautista resident Susan Brady said.
In certain areas around San Juan, especially at the entrance to town on the Alameda around Washington and Fourth streets, candidates have placed signs laden with balloons and neon lights that create a circus-like environment, she said.
Brady lived in Davis and worked on local and national campaigns there for years before moving to San Juan Bautista seven years ago.
Davis had ordinances in place to establish limits toward the size, shape and positioning of signs, which cut down on a gaudy atmosphere overrun by political propaganda during election months that San Juan suffers from, she said.
“Signs are very important, but there’s no reason to have them be 6 by 8 feet tall,” Brady said. “Every political race I’ve seen since I’ve been here is like that. The entrance to San Juan is made to look ridiculous.”
The historical aspect of San Juan Bautista requires a more definitive set of rules for signage than some other cities in the county because of the town’s antiquated flavor, Brady said.
To put an ordinance in place in San Benito County, the Board of Supervisors would have to pass a mandate outlining the perimeters candidates would have to reside in to put any restrictions on campaign signs.
There are no plans in place by the Board to take this type of action.
Any concern that regulating political signs could affect election outcomes shouldn’t be an issue, because it would place all the candidates on an even playing field, she said.
“Then if you want people to notice you, you just have to get people involved,” she said.
As a run-off candidate for the November regular election and the District 2 supervisor seat, Anthony Botelho had signs around San Benito County, including San Juan Bautista.
He concedes that in the past candidates have abused the type and amount of signs they erect, which has caused this kind of public backlash.
“I think signs help with name familiarity, but there could be an overkill with that,” Botelho said. “I think we need to protect what makes San Juan special. By having oversized, poorly placed signs coming into town, it just doesn’t help business.”
