Sighs of the times

Jeff is sporting a new mo. Alan has visited the Bronx. Whilst Di is a new found friend of YAPS.

Election coreflute signs are now gracing the regions' streets, providing a ready made canvas for pranksters.

In what is childish behaviour, it's a activity that costs candidates dearly, the sport of election billboard defacing is in full swing it seems.

"They are really mean," says Di Forsyth, running in Division 7 for the Cairns 1st team.

"This is something that we can do without. Everyone has the right to display their [election] signs and they should respect our right."

Di Forsyth's defaced sign now is emblazoned with the word 'dog' on it. As a party that supports responsible pet ownership, maybe this was an endorsement? However Di, and all candidates, don't deserve this rough treatment.

"I would hope that people from any group who might be behind these activities, would leave them be over the next few weeks," says Di Forsyth.

Meanwhile Councillor Alan Blake reported that some of his signs were stolen over the last few days.

Blake, running as an independant, I mean independent, has reported that some of his election signs have been stolen, in what looks like a co-ordinated attack.

"I take these very seriously," says Alan Blake, "We intend to report any incidents to the police."

Standard election corfluttes cost anything between $15 and $25 a piece, most ordering around 50 or 100 each, so it is a costly investment.

"Losing signs is not only time consuming but is very unfair. Everyone running has a right to display their signage, so long as it complies with the law, and I'd hope any political opponents would give us a fair go," says Blake.

Blake says not about winning but how people play the game. "Win or loose, we all have to live in this city and with our conscience."

Political opponent to Blake, Richie Bates, says that a lot of hard work goes into a campaign. "It's a low blow to sabotage signs, especially when the Unity team has over a $100,000 for advertising," he says. "This is about giving a fair go to the battler out there."

Richie Bates has already reported defaced billboards to Blake, in the spirit of looking out for others running. "I defend the right for anyone to run in this campaign, regardless of their politics," Bates says.

In the 2004 Cairns City Council election, Cairns 1st team embraced the problem of election graffiti.

They launched an informal competition where people could creatively deface the billboard on the condition that the candidate's name was not obscured.