Crews from Sumter County, the Florida Department of Transportation and Wildwood have been keeping an eye on the placement of campaign signs throughout this election season.
Sumter County Administrator Bradley Arnold confirmed that his crews have been out picking up signs in some areas recently, specifically those placed in county rights-of-way, where they are prohibited.
“The rules are documented in our Code of Ordinances and have been there for a number of years,” he said in an email Wednesday.
Arnold said FDOT crews also have been patrolling their rights-of-way to make sure candidates are adhering to sign-placement rules. And he added that signs the county picks up ultimately are disposed of.
“They are rarely claimed since the owner of the sign can be cited under our ordinance,” Arnold said.
Wildwood City Manager Jason McHugh said he takes the same stance as the county when it comes to signs placed on public rights-of-way and city property.
“My public works crew will periodically move them out of the right-of-way or simply pick them up,” McHugh said, adding that the city doesn’t have many violations.
On Wednesday, longtime Wildwood Mayor Ed Wolf said he supports the policy and recalled having to readjust one of his campaign signs near his house recently.
“I had to move it about six inches,” he said. “But I was glad to do it.”
The Villages has strict guidelines about signs and political campaigns. You can read those guidelines at Campaign guidelines in The Villages
