A sticker fix for campaign signs

A little-known provision of state campaign regulations prompted at least one local candidate to order hundreds of stickers with the word “For.” As in “Mike Lyons for PUD commissioner.”

Lyons acted after spotting a news story Thursday about another candidate in an unrelated race.

The Columbian reported that the state’s Public Disclosure Commission faulted legislative candidate Brian Peck for yard signs that stated, “Brian Peck State Representative 17 (R).” In the eyes of the PDC, by leaving off the words “for” or “elect,” the signs imply that Peck already holds the office. In fact, Peck is running against incumbent state Rep. Tim Probst, D-Vancouver.

Lyons, running against incumbent Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes for the nonpartisan position, said he immediately picked up the phone after reading the story about Peck.

“I called the PDC this morning to tell them I’m in the same situation,” he said.

Thus, residents may spot Lyons out pasting “for” stickers on both sides of all 250 of his blue campaign signs. Lyons noted that incumbency for any position isn’t exactly a coveted trait in this season of voter discontent.

Even so, he said, he doesn’t want to run afoul of the rules.

“I just assumed everybody would know who the incumbent is,” he said.

Erik Robinson