The signs are colorful and interesting with tag lines like "Proven leadership," "It's time for a change," and "Let's change the course of history."  Not everyone would agree.

However, the City's electoral process allows political signs to be displayed for 60 days prior to an election, with a permit, and so long as the signs are not more than 6 square feet in area and are less than 3 feet in height.  The signs must also be removed within 5 days after the election date, and meet other criteria.

One important aspect of the City ordinance is that signs may not be placed on public property or in any public right of way, or on private property without the owner's permission. 

In the case of Hwy 89A, a state highway, the right-of-way belongs to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

According to our sources, ADOT swept down 89A last night and removed all political signs that were in their right of way.  Those signs have been placed in ADOT's "sign jail" in Flagstaff.  The City of Sedona says they were not involved in the sweep.

Barbi Webster, the owner of Mexidona, said that ADOT came by last night and removed at least a half a dozen signs in front of her store. The only one left that met the City ordinance was the lonely "Rob Adams for Mayor" sign tucked close to the building in order to remain 34 feet from the curb and outside the ADOT right of way.

Although most of the candidates were contacted prior to the sign removal, many Sedona business owners awoke this morning to find the signs on their property removed. 

Said Barbi Webster, owner of Mexidona, "We didn't know anything about it.  ADOT should have given the candidates the opportunity to move the signs before they took them."

According to Ms. Webster, some of the political campaigns have contacted her and said they plan to replace their removed signs, but this time in accordance with the City's right-of-way ordinance.

One campaign that seems to have been spared by the ADOT sweep is the Rob Adams for Mayor Campaign. 

Said Eric Shrode, Treasurer, "When I originally read the sign ordinance, I was confused because it didn't say how to determine the ADOT right-of-way, so I spoke to the City about it.  I learned that a sign has to be placed at least 34 feet from curb unless there's a turn-lane, in which case it can be measured from the edge of the turn lane."

Mr. Shrode went on to say, "Yesterday morning I drove up and down 89A for more than two hours with a tape measure and did my best to ensure that all of our signs meet the right-of-way ordinance.  To the best of my knowledge, none of our signs were picked up by ADOT."