State: No rush to take down political signs

Think Tuesday’s election means the end of political campaign signs scattered throughout your neighborhoods and towns? Not necessarily.

Thanks to a state law that took effect Jan. 1, local governments no longer can require residents to remove signs within a specific time frame on residential properties.

The measure, signed into law last summer by Gov. Pat Quinn, prohibits any ordinances that establish a time limit and essentially allows residents to keep signs up year-round.

State officials have said the issue is one of free speech. But some local officials complain the state has overreached.

“It’s kind of disconcerting that the legislature stuck its nose into a local issue,” Wheaton City Manager Don Rose said. “Taking down campaign signs seven days after an election certainly seems to be a reasonable regulation that gets rid of all of the clutter around town.”

The law specifically singles out political campaign signs, saying regulating them is a function of the state. Before the law took effect, Wheaton residents had a week to remove the signs.

A similar law in Naperville had to be amended.

“State law is superior,” said Naperville Code Enforcement Supervisor Ann Michalsen. “As long as they follow other provisions, they are OK.”

Michalsen said the city tends to be complaint-based and crews do not check to see if signs are within public right-of-way unless prompted.

Winfield Village Manager Curt Barrett called the state’s decision a “head-scratcher.”

“They should not even be in a position of having to address this,” he said. “After the election, that is the time you put the signs away.”

Wheaton City Councilman Todd Scalzo said the state should not have gotten involved.

“Generally, being a city guy, I like to retain local authority,” he said. “I don’t like for legislators elected by citizens outside of Wheaton to determine Wheaton issues like this. But I guess that’s the entire nature of state government.”