Early election signs spark ire

It’s usually a bad idea for politicians to be seen as sitting on the fence. In Hamilton, it’s where they all want to be.

A rush for fence space in suburban Hamilton has prompted accusations that some candidates in the upcoming local body elections have jumped the gun, and pinched the best fence line spots before anyone else has had a fair chance to.

Just a few days into the official campaign period, hundreds of shiny billboards bearing the smiling visages of those wanting to get onto or back into the Hamilton City Council are already a ubiquitous sight at many a major intersection.

But some have, apparently, put their signs up too early.

Under election rules, signs for elections can be displayed for no more than three months prior to the election date.

This year that day is Saturday, October 8.

The allegedly premature appearance of Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, councillor Sarah Thomson and candidate Dan Steer on the fences has prompted some of their opponents to take offence – most notably Southgate’s deputyturned-competitor Geoff Taylor.

Taylor was compelled to email the council’s governance and assurance manager Michelle Hawthorne with his concerns the election rules were already being flouted.

‘‘All of us are eager to get our signs out and get the best positions we can,’’ he wrote on Friday night.

‘‘However Mayor Paula Southgate, Sarah Thomson and Dan Steer have been busily putting their signs up this afternoon and evening. By 9pm tonight Paula had 50 signs out.

‘‘What action will staff be taking over this, or should we assume that the next three months will be a free for all?

‘‘Personally I’ve got sign placements, and I’ll be going about my business tomorrow. But I do feel sorry for first term candidates anxious to get space and finding that even the mayor doesn’t respect the rules they have been told to adhere to.’’

Taylor subsequently told Stuff he was reluctant to take the issue further, although he was still disappointed.

‘‘I appreciate that people don’t want to see us fighting, but leadership comes from the top.’’

Southgate was adamant ‘‘nothing near’’ 50 signs had gone up early. Only four had been posted on Friday, thanks to ‘‘an over-enthusiastic helper’’ who saw other candidates were putting their signs up and mistakenly construed it was OK to do so.

She had approached the property owners months beforehand to ask permission to use their fences – as any organised candidate should have done.

‘‘To be honest, there’s bigger issues to focus on than this.’’

Thomson said she was confident that under district plan rules the three-month stipulation meant it was 12.01am on Friday, July 8 when candidates were allowed to begin advertising – not 12.01am on Saturday, July 9, as was advertised on the council’s ‘‘Your City Elections’’ website.

‘‘I really don’t think I have broken any rules. The interpretation it was July 9 is actually inconsistent with what’s in the district plan.’’

Steer admitted putting up his signs early. Because no advertising was allowed on election day, he took that as meaning it was OK to begin posting signs on July 7.

‘‘It was an honest mistake.’’

‘‘I really don’t think I have broken any rules. The interpretation it was July 9 is actually inconsistent with what’s in the district plan.’’ Councillor Sarah Thomson

The word on the street is there are suddenly many words on the street, in the form of hundreds of election hoardings. This prime position on the corner of Norton Rd and Torrington St has been fully occupied.