I am all for freedom of expression and could care less about the signs of either party as long as like they say it isn't a public safety issue. But I don't get it anyway, has anyone ever voted for someone because they saw a sign with the name on it? It's not like they list out their positions or accomplishments.

On the contrary, if I have to look at a big, obnoxious sign enough times while driving into my neighborhood every day, I am actually *less* likely to vote for the candidate.

I like the www.BobEhrlich.corn effect.

I would like to see all signs go away. I do not base my decision on who has the most signs or the biggest. This whole fight over signs has gotten out of hand. Why don't people spend their time debating the real issues instead of fighing over a bunch of ridiculous signs. Hope these are all taken down the day after the election.

I think all political signs should be banned. Ehrlich had a sign on an old pier in Curtis Bay from last election that finally fell into the water afte two years

I am sick of these political signs. It is bad enough that we have to subjected to these during and up to the elction, but then to view some of these signs for up to two years afterwards. I hope never to see the name EHRLICH again

I've never seen so many idiots as on this website and this newspaper.

Why has no one posed the question to county officials...

WHY HAVE NO MARTIN O'MALLEY SIGNS RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW?

Are you trying to tell me he doesn't have some large signs too?

This story smells so bad of political corruption I don't know where to start yet all the lemmings here just follow along like fools along with the Baltimore Sun editorial board which will soon endorse O'Malley.

IDIOTS. You get what you deserve.

But legally, all of these signs will pass any court test because its free speech.
Yet The Baltimore Sun refuses to report that part of the story.

Whether you hate them or the candidate is irrelevant. The signs are legal by federal law even if not by local laws.

It's plain and simple and clear that Jim Smith's party machine is targeting ONE CANDIDATE.

WHEN WILL THE SUN REPORT THAT PART OF THE STORY?

Why can't this Ehrlich supporter just follow the law and play by the rules? Is this another case where Republicans believe that rules and laws are made for someone other than themselves? If this was an O'Malley supporter the airwaves would be filled with trash. Are they so self-possessed to believe they have special standding in society? If Ehrlich had class he would tell this person to put up a legal sign and thank him for his support.

Temporary Signs

Temporary signs, including campaign signs, may not be illuminated and are subject to the following height and size limitations:

* Signs in business, manufacturing and office zones may not exceed 50 square feet and can be no more than 15 feet high.
* Signs in residential and all other zones may be no more than 8 square feet and no more than 8 feet high.

Campaign signs may only be placed on private property with the express consent of the property owner, and such signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way. In addition, signs may not be placed in a location that blocks the ability of drivers to see oncoming traffic or pedestrians.

I don't see anything about being 12 inches apart...

"WHY HAVE NO MARTIN O'MALLEY SIGNS RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW?

Are you trying to tell me he doesn't have some large signs too?"

You tell us, Fabby, we "idiots" are too stupid to know. Enlighten us "lemmings": summon some of your genius pals to investigate and report back to us.

I don't much care for either candidate, but I would not be persuaded to vote for a candidate because of the size of his sign on the lawn of a supporter.

I guess I'm too stupid to understand, but how does calling people lemmings and IDIOTS encourage them to vote for your preferred candidate?

Fabby - You're right about the bias. However, I have not seen all that many O'Malley signs. Ehrlich signs are practically everywhere, so they're an easy target. Even for rabidly the pro-O'Malley/anti-Ehrlich Baltimore Sun.

Personally, I find all the support for Ehrlich encouraging. O'Malley can't be voted out soon enough.

As long as the sign is on private property and not causing any public safety issues, the county should butt out.

Political speech should be the most protected form of free speech.

Hey Fabby,

O'Malley's signs are normal size. Ehrlich's are oversized eyesores to compensate for him being undersized somewhere else.

When Ehrlich stops masquerading as a Democrat (Blue & White) and puts Republican on his signs I'll start paying attention to them. Steele tried to pull the same thing - didn't work for him either

* Signs in business, manufacturing and office zones may not exceed 50 square feet and can be no more than 15 feet high.
* Signs in residential and all other zones may be no more than 8 square feet and no more than 8 feet high.

That in itself discriminates against a homeowner!

Diane says "When Ehrlich stops masquerading as a Democrat (Blue & White) and puts Republican on his signs ...

I noticed that MOST if not ALL the signs I have seen DO NOT have any affiliation on them! Interesting!

Ehrlich's signs are big and all over the place because it is an attempt to hit people over the head with a symbol, the the way Hitler put thousands of huge symbols all over the place to brainwash people to his side irregardless of any meaning or content." As long as the sign is on private property..." reminds me of the Ravens commercial of two neighbors trying to outdo each other. Ehrlich's signs are obviously the ridiculously large balloon figure as big as the house...

Carolyn,

Why have no O'Malley signs run afoul of the law? Because they haven't been giving out signs that are in violation. I called their Baltimore County office, asked for the biggest sign they had, and they gave me one 8 sq. ft. It isn't a political issue, as much as you'd like to make it one.

- Mark

I'm still trying to decide, and I don't think a 4x8 sign will sway me any more than a 2x4 sign or a 2x2 lawn sign. However, when people start trying to compare a Maryland loving person like Ehrlich to Hitler, I really start to wonder about Maryland's voting constituency. I guess Jeff would say the same thing about any Kamenetz or Bartenfelder 4x8s? Or O'Malley 4x8s? Eh, wild guess here but probably not. My feeling is that the reason people are putting up more Ehrlich signs (and they seem to want bigger ones to really show their support) is because they believe he is better for this state, not because he's used some sort of Nazi control mechanism. What further proves this point is that O'Malley's the one with $5.7m in his campaign account and Ehrlich has $147,000 (yet they're tied in the polls). I'm for free speech regardless of party affiliation. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all if "Jeff" is actually the Baltimore County Government employee in charge of enforcing the constitutionally flawed Baltimore County sign law and is clearly swaying his enforcement more towards Republican candidates than Democrat candidates. Free speech is free speech, and this tactic is going to backfire.

Frankly, I think we should burn the signs and any pamplets that let the people become aware of competitive candidates. The Democraticly controlled Baltimore County has a fascist hold on the taxpayers property tax and they don't want any citizen unrest to push them away from the public troth. Freedom of speach and expression is one thing, but name recognition in a community with no real newspapers is another.

Good for these guys. This is America where freedom of speech is the first item on the bill of rights!

Wow, this cracks me up!
Yes, there is no way that you should not follow the law. This person, whom happens to be my Father was trying to follow the law, which is EXACTLY why he cut the sign anyway. IF the law states he has to move the signs apart, then he will, he has no problem following the law. That is NOT the issue at hand....

1. The sun-paper called him about the story, he didn’t initiate it! (they got copies of all the local citations because they wanted to do an article on it and in doing so saw his "solution", thought it was clever, and called him).

2. Whose business is it what sign he does (or does not) have on his personal home, his personal home that he worked his entire life extremely hard to earn and own, they aren't in any public right of way, and do not in any way present a threat or a danger.

3. Yes he is a REPUBLICAN, yes he supports BOB EHRLICH, but no, he does not care if you do not! Feel free to hang your own signs up on your own property if you would like to, he certainly doesn't have enough time or care to worry about what you have on your house- that’s your business! Busy man my father, good local business man, Good Husband, Good Father and Good Grandfather.

4. The man who called in the complaint has for years been a business acquaintance that is much associated with a lot of our current local leaders and the President of the local democratic club (hence the political issue) whom apparently has too much time on his hands that he can worry about what my father has hanging on HIS HOUSE. In addition, the same day, the same man called in more than 20 of the same complaints, different houses, areas, and families, but all Ehrlich Signs, some of which he isn't even around to look at, but somehow knew they were there and called in the complaints on them.

5. Hitler, Really ?! That's so funny, I'm actually thankful that you were able to amuse me to this degree, that’s all I have to say about that, just too-ridiculous, comment 

WOW.... The degree of response is unreal, the negativity likewise!

Those who are more open-minded no matter who you may or may not support politically, come to Stouten's Snowball Stop on Wise Avenue in Dundalk 21222 (at Stouten's Marina) and meet one of the greatest men you'll ever meet, my Dad (and we don't care if you come with an O'Malley shirt, HAHA! just because we don't agree, we certainly aren't going to tell you to remove it....

People are just too funny!

Anyone who hasn't seen a O'Malley sign just drive onto Rt.40 west from I-695, and then turn north onto Rolling Road.

He's got at least 5 of these billboard size signs in just that short drive and all of them appear to be in "suspect" locations... grass ways along the road where a business would not necessarily own or between businesses where neither would object to whatever the county places... oh, I'm sorry for that slip... "a campaign worker" places.

It's been removed in the past week or two, but O'Malley even had one of these billboard size signs "directly on" the grounds of the public elementary school where south Rolling road and Frederick road intersect, just to give you an indication of the blatant disregard for the sign laws his campaign is taking. EVERYONE knows that a public school is off limits to political campaign signs... anyone but O'Malley's team that is. I'll bet they are still patting themselves on the back for getting away with it being in place as long as it was.

I firmly believe O'Malley has crews working around the clock placing the biggest signs they can where ever they can, without asking one business if they actually support the candidate or if they agree to display the sign. After all, why would any business in this tax business happy state agree to place an O'Malley sign on their property?

Regardless of whether these signs "sway" a voter... these particular signs in such abundance on such a short span of roadway are an eyesore at best, obstructions on a busy road that can least afford any and possibly a total violation of the sign laws so heavily applied to "the other candidate".

I for one would love to see 4 team volunteer groups made up of 2 dems and 2 reps span neighborhoods and business districts with the sign law in hand and empowered to pull down "any" sign which violates the regulations.

I'm tired of the clutter, and if these signs actually were only displayed on the property of supporters who agreed to have them... we would see the numbers drop drastically.

One last point... it's a pretty telling sign when the guy in charge of making sure these signs follow the law in Balto. County says: "the county is pulling back enforcement on political signs"... leading me to believe his boss (Jim Smith) may have given him the word to "back off" because the O'Malley signs might come down at a 4-1 ratio if they did enforce the laws.

Once again a conservative shows they are smarter than all the liberals out there. He was on to something but because the "sign nazi" opps inspector was trying to push his weight around (probably some stupid lib), got made because he was outsmarted, had to make a big deal about it. Hopefully after Ehrlich wins the election, he looses his job and he can ask Obama to share some of his money with him.