By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Large political campaign signs are being targeted by the
Outdoor Circle, which says the signs are out of control this
campaign season. The group is challenging candidates
to refrain from using the signs.

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Campaign to
banish yard signs
asks candidates’ aid

Six running for office
sign on, while Bronster is
petitioned for a ruling

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

The Oahu environmental group that successfully lobbied for a Hawaii ban on billboards 71 years ago wants this year's political candidates to show they won't mar the landscape with signs.

The Outdoor Circle wants them to agree to refrain from using political yard signs in their campaigns, a practice the group says has gotten out of control this election year, said Mary Steiner, chief executive officer of the Outdoor Circle.

"I think that what's made this year so different is that the signs have gone up so much earlier than they have before," said Steiner, who began seeing signs in early July.

"Every single day, we've received so many calls that it makes us realize that we do have a problem out here. People here are used to not seeing signs, and it bothers then when they go up," she said.

The organization on Monday mailed out 202 letters to all Oahu candidates for office asking support for its "Political Signs Challenge" to prevent the unsightly practice.

It also filed a complaint the same day with state Attorney General Margery Bronster, asking that she rule on the legality of placing political signs on government-owned property as well as determine which agency is responsible for enforcing the law.

Steiner said the effort started in the 1994 election year, after a 1990 U.S. Supreme Court ruling halted the regulation of political signs, saying it would violate First Amendment rights. The high court ruling ended a Honolulu city ordinance that prohibited the posting of political signs on private residences.

State law allows campaign signs on private property, but only between 45 days before and 10 days after an election.

Steiner said about 25 candidates accepted the challenge in 1994, including City Councilman Steve Holmes, who is up for re-election this year.

Holmes, who next month faces candidates Melodie W. Aduja, Tom Pico Jr. and Danny Smith, said yesterday he's again denying requests from his supporters for yard signs, which they want to counter those of his opponents.

The Windward councilman agrees that the yard signs, like billboards, ruin the look of Hawaii and should not be used.

"I did that four years ago, and (former opponent) Joe Pickard had signs up all over God's creation," Holmes recalled. "And I somehow managed to win in spite of that, so I'm hoping that I can live by my principles one more time."

Already, Holmes and five other candidates have accepted the challenge. They include Eugene F. Douglass for U.S. Senate, Carol J. Douglass for U.S. House, Louis A. Molina and Mark Terry for state House, and Dennis Minga for state Senate.

Steiner said the group will issue updates as more people sign on.

Still, one top gubernatorial campaign believes the request comes too late. Chris Vandercook, press secretary for the Ben Cayetano campaign, said yesterday if the request had been made earlier to all the campaigns, something could have been done.

"But we're in the campaign, and our supporters want to be able to display their support for the governor on their property, which is entirely within the law," Vandercook said.

"And we're going to continue to operate within the law," he said.

Campaign representatives for Republican gubernatorial challengers Linda Lingle and Frank Fasi did not return calls to the Star-Bulletin yesterday.