Early signs appear to be in violation of local ordinance

I was disgusted to drive through Marlboro 58 days prior to the Nov. 4 mayoral election and see local Democratic mayoral/council political signs already cluttering our streets. It didn’t make sense to me that the town would allow our roads to be cluttered with political signs so soon before the election.

I figured I could easily find out whether there was an ordinance controlling the placing of political signs by doing some Internet research. Within an hour, I was able to find the township ordinance that the Township Council had enacted prohibiting signs from going up prior to 45 days before an election. After reading the ordinance, I called the township zoning office to complain. I wanted to ask them why they are allowing the Democratic mayoral and council candidates to break the law.

I called the township zoning office to ask them why signs were allowed to be placed although it was prohibited by ordinance.

Instead of giving me the correct answer — which was yes, the signs are in violation of the ordinance — the zoning office official, in an attempt to protect their political cronies, advised me that they did not have the answer and they would have the township attorney check to see if there is a state law governing political signs that supersedes the local ordinance. The official then advised me that it would take a few weeks to get an answer.

Shouldn’t our township attorney and our code enforcement officer know the answer? Shouldn’t our Township Council have known prior to enacting such a law whether there was a state law that superseded it?

Like many residents, I am sick and tired of the political games that go on in our town. I am sure that the officials in this town that are supposed to be enforcing our ordinances and laws travel the same roads that I do. I am sure that they have seen the signs. I am positive that the politicians that are running the Democratic mayoral campaign know that they are prohibited from placing signs prior to 45 days before the election.

Their blatant disregard of the ordinance proves to me that they just don’t care. This is just another example of the arrogance of our elected officials and the Democratic leaders. I know one thing for sure, on Election Day I am going to vote for a candidate who plays by the rules. No more politics as usual.

Randy Stouber

Marlboro