Last week the Cook County News-Herald reported a bit of controversy surrounding the election signs for candidates running for the office of Cook County Sheriff. Deputies Patrick Eliasen and Leif Lunde are both running for the office being vacated by Sheriff Mark Falk.
Both candidates had offered campaign signs to their supporters and signs were seen in yards throughout the county. Shortly after the signs appeared, the candidates were informed that there are restrictions on when signs endorsing political candidates can appear.
On the Minnesota Secretary of State website section “Campaign Lawn Signs” it states: Some municipalities have ordinances restricting the placement of lawn signs. In a state general election year (even years), these ordinances are overruled by Minnesota Statutes 211B.045 from 46 days before the primary until 10 days after the general election, and campaign signs may be posted in any size and number. For 2014, this period begins June 27 and ends November 14. In municipalities which have no sign ordinance, campaign signs may be posted in any size and number throughout the year.
Candidate Leif Lunde removed all of his campaign signs.
Candidate Pat Eliasen has chosen to take down his campaign signs everywhere except within the Grand Marais city limits. Eliasen contacted the News-Herald this week to explain his decision.
Eliasen shared an email reply he had received from Stella Mary Hegg of the Secretary of State’s office, which stated, “I am not able to interpret state laws or provide opinions, but, this has been a question that is asked at every election and I have been with elections over ten years now…. and this is my standard response:
“There are no state laws that address when campaign signs can or cannot be posted. M.S. 211B.045 usually has meant that if a jurisdiction such as a city/township has an ordinance or portions of an ordinance regulating the size and number of non-commercial signs a person may have on their private property…. Those ordinances/portions are not “in effect” or cannot be “enforced” from 46 days before the state primary until 10 days after the state general primary (even years only).
“So if a jurisdiction does not have an ordinance, there is no ordinance,” wrote the Secretary of State.
According to Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson, the county does have a sign ordinance restricting the erection of campaign signs 30 days before the primary. State law supersedes this and restricts sign placement for 46 days before the election.
Reached by phone, City Administrator Mike Roth said that Grand Marais does have an ordinance. However, Roth added that it has been in place for some time and it is not in compliance with the state statute because it calls for a restriction on signs for 30 days before the election instead of 46. “It’s part of our sign ordinance, which has an exemption for that specific period. But because it’s not in compliance with the state statute, we don’t enforce it. Basically, what I tell candidates is to not place campaign signs in the road right of way,” said Roth.
Both sheriff candidates have stated they would distribute their signs to supporters around the county again on June 27.
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