As the winds of the political season swirl about the county, candidates signs land on residents' yards, along the thoroughfares and on vacant lots.

With that come complaints about the size and number of the signs.

In Auburn, the city's code enforcement office wants to make sure people are following the rules, which were sent to all candidates. Signs are not allowed to be in the city's right-of-way, such as the strip of yard from the sidewalk to the curb or street.

Ground signs' faces are limited to 10 square feet, while billboards can be 32 square feet in size.

Both Cayuga County district attorney hopefuls Jon Budelmann, Republican and Conservative parties, and Michael Bass, Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties, have signs that are standing on wooden legs.

Whether these are signs or billboards are “suspect to interpretation,” Bass said, but senior city code enforcer Brian Hick said those signs are classified as a ground sign. He won't comment on specific candidates' campaigns signs.

The city code office has received phone calls complaining the signs are too large, and that the city is inundated with them. Hicks and his crews have been driving through the city to check out placement, size and number of signs.

According to the state Department of State, municipalities can treat noncommercial signs - which encompasses political signs - differently than business signage. Government bodies may regulate the size, placement and number of signs as long as the rules are enforced universally.

One important reason for enforcement is to prevent residential areas from looking commercialized.

“When you have a large sign, you diminish that residential feel,” Hicks added.

“All candidates have been sent the regulations. We are relying on them for voluntary compliance,” Hicks said.

Bass suggests that people with issues should make the campaigns aware so they can correct them.

Cherl Heary, chairwoman of the Cayuga County Republican Party, agrees that candidates should be responsible for their own signs because the code office informed them of the rules.

But what about the campaign supporters who don't receive notification?

Most candidates agree with the regulation requiring people to remove signs 14 days after the election. It's up to the candidates to collect the banners after the races.

“They have a good point, nobody wants to see political signs up for three months,” Heary said.

Legislator candidate Thomas McKellop said he and other candidates he's spoken with, plan to remove the signs after election.

“Of course, we're concerned about how the community looks,” McKellop said.

The Republican county Legislature candidate didn't really know the rules of placement, but Republican Party members helped him learn the rules.

But regulations regarding extras don't exist, including McKellop's spotlight for his large sign standing in his front yard. He keeps the light on for two hours in the evening.

Another major concern is safety and large signs that block traffic. One regulation prohibits political signs in triangular spaces which allow for clear sight for drivers.

Kate Lacey, Cayuga County Democratic Party chairwoman, said she understands why people get upset about large signs that impede vision, as well as block views in traffic.

Regulations are important to prevent the clusters of signs which can become unattractive, she said.

“We (see) signs in city parks, city right of ways, along the Arterial, which is certainly public property. We (see) signs on private property where permission wasn't granted. It just gets silly,” Lacey said.

It's very difficult to convince someone who plays by the rules not to pull someone else's yard signs out, she said.

“I've heard more about signs than the issues over the past two weeks,” Lacey said.

And that raises a key question - how important are signs anyway?

McKellop, who is facing Patrick Mahunik for District 12 county legislator, decided he wouldn't risk another campaign without signs. When McKellop ran for Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education last year, he assumed people would support him based on the issues and his ideas. However, people would make comments that they were looking for his signs around the city but didn't see them.

He isn't sure if distributing signs would have made a different in the race he lost, but just in case, he ordered 100 this year.

“A lot is name recognition. That's an important thing when you get in the election booth,” McKellop said.

While no one has proven signs help win elections, name recognition is enough to send dozens of politicians to Sign Guys of Auburn over the years, owner Tom Shayler said.

The most popular item remains the 18- by 24-inch yard signs, but the shop also make large four by eight feet signs held up by wood. The printery has sold car magnets for about 10 years, but have increased in popularity over the years. A new trend this year is candidates adding their photographs to the signs, Shayler said.

“You see that in larger metropolitan areas and cities,” Shayler said.

He also handles towns and villages, mostly for supervisor or highway superintendent.

He credits the word of mouth about his shop to the high percentage of clients who win their races - which he says is at 94 percent.

But, he doesn't turn candidates away, so what happens when he handles opponents?

“It lowers my average, I guess,” he said with a chuckle.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net

See the signs

The following are a list of rules outlined in the Auburn city code regarding noncommercial signs, which includes political signs.

€ The front of a wall or ground sign should be 10 square feet or less.

€ Ground signs should have no more than two faces and should be at most six feet high.

€ No more than two temporary promotional signs per lot are allowed.

€ Wall signs can be no higher than a second-floor windowsill, or if the building doesn't have windows, as high as the roof eaves.