howardlbelz:

This is a great topic and one that is close to my heart having run my first political campaign when I was 22 years old. As Autodoc pointed out, I would not take lightly having candidates place signs on my property without permission. I also feel like alexlekas that a flood of signs is a problem. Having put up my share of campaigns over the years, I always try to get the biggest sign or place my candidate’ sign blocking the other candidate’s sign.

If you limit signs to just the candidates you support you do run the risk of alienating not only current customers, but prospects as well.

One idea that I have used with facilities and recommended to clients across the country is the donation of space to candidates. Instead of buying campaign fun raising tickets providing a candidate’s campaign with the use of a vacant 10 x 20 or 10 x 30 to use as their sign headquarters will usually be very well received. This task usually falls to one or two volunteers who give up their home garage to the candidate. Using your facility as a place store and assemble signs and for volunteers to gather at do a sign blitz for example will always be remember by local candidates and local campaign organizers for even state-wide and nationally offices.

Many states do require that an “in kind” contribution be reported and corporations are sometimes banned from direct contributions. Some owners may want to actually pay for the space themselves and then turn over the space to the campaign. I would much rather pay myself for the use of a 10 x 30 for 3 or 4 months than buy $400 or $500 worth of campaign fund raising tickets. And if you really want to surprise a candidate, it would be great when they open the storage unit to discover 200-300 perfect wood stakes and even some 4 x 8 sheets of outdoor plywood just waiting to be used.

I would urge every manager to make sure that you fully understand the policy that your owner(s) has about campaign signs before you allow anyone to post on your property. Follow Autodoc’s comments about contacting the people who did not ask permission, at least once nicely, to come and take their signs down. If not their wood sign stakes get added to your collect to donate to another candidate.

No matter what your politics, this is one year that everyone needs to get out and VOTE.

MisterJim444

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