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Smith says there are 'more important issues' than signs

Jeff Miller

By Bill Moss, Published: August 6, 2013

Hendersonville City Council candidate Jeff Miller on Tuesday challenged his competitors to consider delaying the posting of campaign signs until after Labor Day.



"I want to encourage all participants in Hendersonville elections to bear in mind the best interest of city residents and business owners and refrain from putting out campaign signs until Tuesday following the Labor Day weekend," Miller said in a news release. "There will be many visitors in our area for the holiday and for our annual Apple Festival, and, while the signs are important to us, our City will be much more attractive without them during that special time."

The state's sign ordinance allows signs to be placed in state right-of-ways 30 days before early voting starts, which is Sept. 19. That date would be Aug. 20. But the city's sign ordinace allows 60 days, meaning candidates could have posted signs as early as July 21. 

At least two candidates — Councilman Jerry Smith and challenger Ralph Freeman — have already posted signs.

"I'm just suggesting that we 'self regulate' in the interest of helping our city put its best foot forward," Miller said.

Smith sent a press release Wednesday morning stating that candidates were made aware of the sign ordinances through a letter from the City of Hendersonville and had an opportunity to discuss the issue at the Aug. 1 candidate information meeting that Smith and Miller both attended. No candidate raised the issue at that meeting. 

Smith recommends that "we follow the rules in place for the 2013 municpal elections," according to the press release. 

"I think there are more important issues to discuss at this time," Smith said in an interview with the Lightning. "I'm really preparing myself for the candidate forum." 

Candidates get their first opportunity to address the issues during a candidate forum at 6 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the Historic Train Depot designed to focus on development of Historic Seventh Avenue District.