Voters May Have Sent Messages to Powers That Be

Ernie Feeney has advanced her usual good ideas in proposing to restrict campaign signs (in Costa Mesa). Yet wouldn’t it be even better to have candidates, at least at the council level, voluntarily sign a pledge not to use any signs?

Candidates do and should have freedom of speech. However, signs from a candidate’s perspective are expensive, a hassle and a constant worry about theft, damage, legality, clutter and blight. Candidates who won’t sign or later break the pledge should receive adverse publicity and be shunned and opposed by the electorate and the media.

A more important issue that the council should address is how to legally prevent and penalize candidates who send out last-minute “hit” mailers that clearly deceive and misrepresent.

CHRIS M. STEEL, Costa Mesa