Spiegel Cries Foul on Rowse Sign Placement

Councilman Ryan Spiegel has accused challenger Tom Rowse and his supporters of blocking his campaign signs early this morning.

Rowse doesn't deny the accusation, but said the issue was corrected.

"Emotions might have been running a little high," Rowse said. "We were out at one in the morning, then came back and crashed out. The issue was resolved. No harm no foul."

Around the time the polls opened this morning, Spiegel said he arrived at the Izaak Walton League to cast his vote and found Rowse signs placed directly in front of nearly all his own signs.

"I was about to call and report it when all of a sudden I started getting all these text messages," Spiegel said. His supporters at other polling places were letting him know that his signs were covered, he said.

"It's not even like there wasn't room," Spiegel said.

Rowse took liberties with his sign placement, even putting one in the planter in front of city hall.

"I'm surprised they didn't take that one down," he joked. But he has been frustrated in the weeks leading up to polling day with more than 30 of his signs being stolen, he said.

All the Rowse signs were moved, Spiegel and Rowse confirmed.

City Attorney Lynn board said she has been notified of the issue, but no action can be taken unless a formal complain is filed.

While there are rules in the city code about how close to the polls a candidate can place signs, there are no rules governing proximity to other signs, Board said.

Spiegel said he hasn't decided if he'll file a complaint.

If he does, Board said, the Board of Supervisors of Elections could review the complaint and possibly issue a fine of $100.

The review would take place regardless of the election results, but if a candidate is elected and the BOSE finds them in violation, the candidate must pay the fine before they are sworn in.