Mayor elects to keep campaign signs up

There is some controversy brewing in West Haven over campaign signs for Mayor John Picard. But it's not the posters themselves bothering some; it may have to do with the timing that those signs are being put up.

Summer isn't over and already signs for Mayor Picard are all over town; he said it's not too early.

"I look at this as a non-issue, we obey the rules," said Mayor Picard.

But Mayoral and City Council Candidate Nancy Rossi is asking for clarification of a local ordinance stating signs can only go up 30 days before an election.

She said since Mayor Picard isn't on the September 15th primary ballot, these signs are up too soon.

"I think it's something that needs to be addressed and not in this forum of just putting your signs up and standing behind that," said Rossi.

A lawyer, at city hall, cites a 2004 letter from the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union which states the posting of political signs is protected by the First Amendment and any ordinance to limit that could be considered unconstitutional.

Mayor Picard claims that same ordinance is not election-specific.

"We're going to keep all the signs up because they obey all the ordinances," he said.

The only sign Rossi has up is for her primary run.

As for her mayoral campaign, she said, "I will not put up my signs for the mayoral race until 30 days prior to the mayoral election."