Comments on: Jeanette Rishell: Laws Are What Other People Comply With

By: Greg L

Greg L — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:28:26 +0000

Good point. Nice to see Rishell blow $300-$500 on signs that allowed her to qualify to pay a fine to PWC for zoning violations. The whole escapade may have cost her campaign about a thousand bucks, and the signs were picked up by the litter crew this weekend sometime.

By: Big Dog

Big Dog — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:45:39 +0000

What do yard signs cost each now? Know it varies by volume,
design and color — but ballpark? $3.50 - $4.50? Anyway, they
aren’t free to the campaign.

By: JYP

JYP — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:45:03 +0000

I agree with what Greg L said on 31 Oct 2009 at 12:29 am.

Rich Anderson has blanketed medians in the 51st district with campaign signs in violation of county ordinances and has disseminated an expunged arrest record in violation of state law.

Like Greg said, “I would just think that someone who wants the opportunity to craft the laws we are required to obey would exhibit some degree of respect for those laws themselves. If [Rich Anderson’s] campaign flouts the law, are we required to comply with the laws [he] crafted or voted in favor of, or are we also free to flout them as [he] has done?”

By: park'd

park'd — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:29:43 +0000

haha where does this clownette keep finding the money to waste every election and why haven’t those benefactors told her to beat it by now? She doesn’t just lose every election, she gets trounced. It boggles me how after this many years she manages to keep getting the funding to run…

By: Greg L

Greg L — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:29:25 +0000

I would just think that someone who wants the opportunity to craft the laws we are required to obey would exhibit some degree of respect for those laws themselves. If Rishell’s campaign flouts the law, are we required to comply with the laws she crafted or voted in favor of, or are we also free to flout them as she has done?

By: Fairness in Media

Fairness in Media — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:24:23 +0000

I think people are stating which is fairly obvious. It is election time and this is par for the course. Regardless of jurisdiction, no one is really concerning themselves with legally posting signs. They just want to get then out and place them anywhere regardless of party affiliation. So what else is new?

By: Manassasinsider

Manassasinsider — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:23:11 +0000

I think the difference between a few scattered signs from the various campaigns that you see on the right of way in Prince William County or Manassas is just the result of an over zealous volunteer. Not a result of coordinated campaign efforts as seen in Fairfax county where it is not against the zoning laws. (and BTW the medians in Fairfax look horrible.)

The difference with the Rishell campaign is that it appears to be an effort of the campaign staff as opposed to just a volunteer. This is evident by the large volume of signs present. I hope her campaign clears them up as soon as possible.

By: Pat.Herve

Pat.Herve — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:48:10 +0000

oh my goodness, I was on Wellington Road, and I saw a Bob McDonnel sign and a Ken C. sign in the VDOT right of way, should I take a picture??

By: Advocator

Advocator — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:45 +0000

Bubba1: I am a VA lawyer and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to you if you remove an illegally placed sign that is not on private property. Assuming, of course, you do not block traffic or break some other law while doing so. Have at it. I’ve used the signs by turning them “inside out” and placing bumper stickers from other candidates on the blank substrate. If you do a public service by picking them up, I suggest you return them Monday night to the candidate’s HQ.

In the past, Senator Colgan’s minions seem to have been the most egregious violaters of signage. His highway construction benefactors erected huge signs in the rights of way, many of them obstructing vision of oncoming traffic. However, they were all gone after the elections.

By: Not SPLC

Not SPLC — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:13 +0000

I’m sure she will excuse it by saying her volunteer’s did it!

By: James Young

James Young — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:51:35 +0000

Disclaimer: this is not legal advice, as I am not a Virginia lawyer.

I don’t think there’s anything that anyone can do to you if you do so, “bubba1.” However, as I noted above, politicians — even losing ones — almost always remove them. I’d give ‘em ’til next Saturday.

By: bubba1

bubba1 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:14:05 +0000

Right on G man. That’s my turf and it’s starting to look like crap. What’s the law on a citizen removing a sign from public property (medians, right-of-ways, etc.) and taking it to the dump or recycling it? I’m equal opportunity; they’re just plain annoying!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:59:05 +0000

Who is the other sign next to Rishell’s in the one photo?

[Ed note: the other signs are for John Bell. Apparently these two candidates are confused about what district they’re in.]

By: citizenofmanassas

citizenofmanassas — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:07:41 +0000

That’s OK, at least these signs are in the 50th district. If you travel North on 28 crossover Bull Run, and out of the County, there are a bunch of her signs in the median.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:03:24 +0000

There are Deeds signs in illegal locations all over the PW parkway, Dale Blvd, etc. Hope Vitter puts that on his blog!

By: Austin

Austin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:58 +0000

Actually, it is a BIG DEAL. If you follow the law, it puts you at a disadvantage. I hope Jackson’s people will not follow suit. The other problem is that campaigns often do not pick up thier signs, they just leave them for the road crews.

By: Pat.Herve

Pat.Herve — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:20:09 +0000

all the volunteers for *all* the campaigns place these signs in the road median and shoulders.

Really not a big deal, as long as they clean up.

By: G Man

G Man — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:54:43 +0000

Today her “crack” staffers also put tons of them along the Prince William Parkway between Liberia Ave. and Rte 234 bypass. That’s not even in her district. Anything to get rid of the signs I guess.

By: Austin

Austin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:12:19 +0000

Unfortunatrly, some will look at these signs and think she actually has a campaign. She had to use the signs somewhere as nobody seems to want them in thier yard.

By: Big Dog

Big Dog — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:04:03 +0000

- Wire supports have taken over - with “bag signs” to slip over them.
Imagine the campaigns like the recent rain since it becomes easier
to stick in the wires (and the signs are plastic so wet weather is OK).

- The City of Manassas has always been strict about enforcement
of laws not allowing political signs on government owned areas like
medians although PWC and MP seem to have another view.