Hampstead Mayor William Steinberg announced today that he will not put any election signs on public property. He will limit his signs to the lawns of private residences.

In the 2005 election campaign, Hampstead was blanketed with a glut of signs of all sizes. Residents made hundreds of complaints but the election law permitted the signs and nothing could be done.

The freshly elected Hampstead council passed a resolution in February of 2006 urging the Quebec government to change the election law to limit the number and size of signs. The resolution passed unanimously with the exception of Councillor Sternthal who missed the meeting. Regretfully, the Quebec government did not make any changes.

Fearing a repeat of the embarrassing visual pollution of 2005, Mayor Steinberg has decided to unilaterally set an example by renouncing his right to post signs on public property like Hydro poles, lamp standards, and street signs. He will limit his signs to private lawns. The Mayor hopes that his opponent and the candidates for council will follow his example.

“Residents want information on the issues and elections signs do not provide it. They are nothing but visual pollution,” argued Steinberg. “In 2005, I had far fewer signs on public property than my two opponents and this time I will have none,” added Steinberg. “I will permit residents who support me to have modest signs on their lawns as these are not nearly as intrusive as the large signs on public property and it is a matter of freedom of expression. During an election some residents like to show their support and I think that is acceptable and good for democracy,” concluded Steinberg.

Source:Town of Hampstead