Well, the election is over here in Ventura, and the results are in. No, not the final tally of votes cast, but the leftover signage strewn across our city streets.
I've just returned from my Wednesday afternoon errands, and while I noticed considerably fewer signs than before the election, some candidates and causes weren't very quick at removing these eyesores. This is an unofficial count of signs I saw along Thompson Boulevard, Telegraph Road, Mills Road, Main Street and Victoria Avenue this afternoon, and it does not include signs posted on private property:
Mike Gibson 29, Neal Andrews 18, Mike Tracy 14, Monique Dollonne 10, Camille Harris 9, Maureen O'Hara 9, Phil Mechanick 8, Wendy Halderman 7, William Knox 6, Robert Dugan 6, Ken Cozzens 4, Jim Monahan 4, Ed Summers 3, Ventura Unified School District board incumbents 3, John Walker 1, Yes on Measure A 2, Yes on Measure B 11, Yes on Measure C 9.
I give a big thank you to those candidates and causes who picked up their signs promptly or never put any up to begin with.
Do these things really make a difference? My tally suggests voters don't use them when deciding who and what to vote for.
-- James Hollenback, Ventura