Political Signs

I just saw a Ralph Martin for Sheriff sign as I was crossing the Glassell/Kraemer bridge into Anaheim.

I've never been a believer in campaign signs, at least for campaigns that have to make every cent of voter contact count. Signs build some soft name ID, and reassure candidates to whom they belong. But if you need to husband every dollar in order to mount a county-wide voter communication effort in a multi-candidate field in hopes of forcing the incumbent Sheriff into a run-off against you instead of the other other-guys --then why waste money on campaign signs? I don't want to second guess Martin's campaign consultant John Shallman, who's a savvy guy. Maybe Martin has more money in the campaign kitty than I imagine.

It reminds of a guy I used to know who ran for Placentia City Council in the early 1990s. He was a good guy and a real solid, principled conservative. Being a citizen activist, he had a limited campaign budget. He walked precincts like a demon, but it unsettled him to always see other council candidates' signs and none of his own. A few of us counseled him to ignore the signs and put his campaign budget entirely into direct mail. Eventually, however, he disregarded our advice and spent an ultimately significant portion of his mail budget on signs.

Seeing his campaign signs certainly made him feel better about his candidacy while he was out campaigning -- until he narrowly lost on Election Day. I've always believed that if he'd kept his head and stuck with the original mail budget, he'd have won.

Thus endeth the lesson.

Comments

[Highlighter Yellow Sucks]

Mike McGill's signs have go to be this election season's ugliest. Thank Steve Spernak for making HB look so beautiful in May.

[David Zenger]

Well, hindsight is 20/20 as they say. But I agree - if you've got the dough go direct mail. Of course if you don't - get ready to schlepp - but hundreds of hours of precinct walking won't beat mail either, and I'm speaking from valuable, personal experience.

I have to admit, Martins' signs for sheriff are the best yet! Sheriff green and OC orange! Understand that 3 mailers are paid for and phone messages await. Additionally, the major tv adds are due out soon.

HHMMMMM. Maybe John Shallman has a theory. The guys a flippin genius and with only 200 to 250k, he simply wants Martin in the runoff.

Let's face it. Martin is the real candidate that the OC Republicans fear. A legitimate and honest cop who will not be comprimised or bought off by the "club".

The DA might have to decide to clean up his act or Martin can simply file all the cases on dirty politicians with the Feds!! He knows Lockyer is tied with Dunn and the other old Davis crowd. This could get really good!!

Spoken like a true cheerleader.

Signs are the black holes of campaigns and the nightmare of knowledgable consultants.
They exist to suck up volunteer hours from voter contact tasks.

[Missy]

Jubal, I seldom agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm marking today on my calendar.

Ditto for Anonymous at 8:49.

[Art Pedroza]

The ugliest and stupidest signs I have seen are the "Think Tan" signs in the 47th Congressional District.

[Zodiac]

When did they learn how to read in Placentia?

[redperegrine]

"When did they learn how to read in Placentia?"

The Council has the City Administrator and City Engineer read for them.

[Direct Voter Contact]

The reason WHY fundraising is so important in a countywide race like Sheriff is that the name of the game IS fundraising.

A look on the incumbent Mike Carona's campaign reports shows that he has purchased his way onto a great deal of slates, which means that he will be on millions of pieces of mail.

In addition, a million dollar GOTV campaign means he will be in mailboxes with his own campaign literature, countwide, a half-dozen times.

I've already gotten a pre-recorded GOTV call from Carona.

He will run a strong effort.

That said, for me, the interesting dynamic because Ralph Martin. Clearly he, Hunt and Alcaraz need to try to pull Carona down below 50% to have a run-off -- but if Martin doesn't, at some point, aim his fire at Hunt, then if there IS a runoff, it won't include Martin.

We'll see how all of this develops.

[Sign me up]

How do you feel about Hot Pad holders??

Carona does not have a million dollars, never did - but I bet he wishes he did! You can't discount the unearned media that comes into play in any election and in that catagory, I think we all have to admit that Hunt has enjoyed more positve articles than Carona, and he, Carona, can't keep away from a new "scandal" breaking almost every other week.

The Sheriff's race is shaping up to be quite interesting. I think it's a run off between Carona and Hunt in November.

[Biff]

If signs are bad, then Tan Nguyen must be doomed ...

[KSA]

I don't doubt that signs are of limited value but they can't be entirely worthless. If they were why does it seem like just about every year almost every candidate whose running a serious campaign in local races litter the side of the road with their campaign. Nobody going to win a contested race on signs alone but there must be some value to them for local races.

Sorry everyone, but Hunt is the Howard Dean of Orange County. He is loud and obnoxious, but not a single vote has been counted yet. Hunt will be a weak also-ran when the dust settles. Martin is the more serious (and better) candidate and will be in the runoff - if there is one!

[Bladerunner]

A respected campaign pro once told me how to deal with a candidate who insists on signs or billboards----place them between the candidates home and his or her work. And don't waste time or cash on any more.

Aren't political signs like regular televsion commercials. Just suppose to catch the watchers attention.

No one argues, that many voters just look at the front page of mail pices so what's the difference with a campaign sign. If I had a choice because of budget constraints I would choose the camp lit. but would not totally discount its effectiveness.

Depending on the voter, signs can be effective. I believe some voters, like candidates get "pumped up" when they see signs of someone they may support or considering supporting.

Wonder why most consultant don't like signs...does it cut into their budget, they can't really justify a bonus on creating the contents in a sign but can in a lit piece, they can't get that "hidden" kick back from that printer.

I got it, cut the consultant...hire a advertising firm a save bigtime.

Signs are effective when people talk about them. On this thread four candidates , including Tan got some free publicity. Tan signs are doing what they are created to do, build name ID, regardless if they are pleasing to the ID you remeber the sign and name

[OCBlightwatch]

Political signs are not our focus, but anyone interested in fighting temporary sign blight of the commercial variety is invited to join our Yahoo! Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocblightwatch/

Thank you!