About every two to four years, just as a city election comes around, mayor Tony Aikens, changes the election sign rules, this time's no different. According to the new ordinance, election signs will not be allowed on any city right-of-ways. Most of the discussion revolved around the area behind Roane State Community College during early voting. The planning director explained that if a candidate sets up a tent to campaign during early voting, tents with signs could only be in place as long as someone was manning the tent but if no one is with the tent, the signs and tent would have to be removed. Also, no election signs would be allowed to be placed on trailers not attached to a motor vehicle. However, signs attached to a motorized vehicle would be allowed even if no one is with the vehicle.

Not sure of the intent of the new rules but they're surely intended to benefit city officials who will be running for re-election. Not allowing right-of-way signs would force most candidates to rely on billboards which are far more expensive than yard signs.

We'll see if the city candidates comply with their own rules in the November election.  

See proposed ordinance below.