Milford Republican for Mayor: Campaign Signs Swing Voters

In his push to oust Mayor Ben Blake from the city’s top municipal seat, Republican Peter Spalthoff has distributed more than double the campaign signs of his opponent's camp.

“I really believe it makes a statement,” says Spalthoff, a retired mortgage broker who has distributed 750 signs to date and has 250 more in the mail. “Signs to me always have depth; it gets your name out there and shows support.”

The Republican says it’s partly his aim to win over unaffiliated voters with the campaign signage. He says that group represents about half of all registered voters in Milford.

It’s Spalthoff’s belief that if an unaffiliated voter sees his sign on a friendly neighbor’s lawn or in the window of a favorite local business, then that resident might be more inclined to vote for the Republican come Nov. 5.

‘Signs don’t vote, people do’

Though the demand for signs is there, Democratic Town Committee Chairman Richard Smith says distributing posters is not a very important part of Blake’s campaign for re-election.

“Our focus is on Blake’s record,” Smith says. “We’re pretty confident people look at Ben’s record – with no yard sign – and vote for him.

“Signs don’t vote, people vote.”

Through a “conservative” approach, Smith says the Blake camp has handed out about 350 signs since the start of the campaign for a second term.

“We understand the public becomes exasperated by these signs,” says the DTC chairman. “We’re not cluttering the city; we’ve been much more deliberate.”

Rules of the game

City ordinance allows for temporary political signs to be put up without a permit, an exemption that temporary real estate signs also carry.

Temporary campaign signage is prohibited from being posted earlier than 90 days before the advertised election and must be removed within five days after said election, the ordinance states.

Candidates cannot place signs on any state or city property and need permission from homeowners or business owners to post them on private property, according to the Milford registrars of voters.

A ‘love fest’

Sometimes people opt to display both candidates’ signs on their property, which is all part of the “love fest” that is election season, says an employee at the registrar who declined to give her name.

One of those broadcasting support for both mayoral candidates is Stonebridge owner Richard Conine, who has three signs apiece on two parcels between his restaurant and the busy sidewalk adjacent to Daniel Street.

Spalthoff says his three signs went up when he held a fundraiser there in early September. Smith, the DTC chairman, says it’s common for Conine to back opposing candidates.

Not all roses

Smith claims the Spalthoff campaign has been pressing signs on people. Spalthoff says he has distributed 70 to 80 percent of the signs himself and if a resident does not say yes to his offer right away, he backs off.

“I don’t push it,” says the Republican, adding that he respects anyone that would put his name on his or her private property. "I take it as a personal confirmation."

Smith also claims that thieves have stolen about 100 of Blake’s signs in recent weeks, though the DTC chairman does not blame Spalthoff or the Republican Party.