Billboards: Where the candidates stand

Keep in mind that 4 years ago Randy Kelly used billboards to promote his
mayoral campaign while Jay Benanav did not. I suspect the billboard
folks are suggesting, or have suggested, to Randy Kelly that his thin
margin of victory was due to billboard advertising. Campaign
advertising, like all billboard advertising, supports an industry that
is nothing more than a blight on our city. Wouldn't it be interesting if
the campaign advertising dynamic were untrue or reversed if true (the
more a campaign advertises on billboards the fewer votes result). In the
grander sense, wouldn't it be interesting if all billboard advertisers
saw fewer customers the more they used billboard advertising. Brian
Bates, Macgrove
 
Jeanne Weigum wrote:
 
>Scenic Saint Paul sent a questionnaire to Chris Coleman, Randy Kelly and
>Elizabeth Dickinson regarding their position on neighborhood
>billboards. The questionnaire was due August 12. Although Kelly did
>respond to the same questionnaire when he ran 4 years ago, he failed to
>complete the questionnaire this year. A summary of KellyÂ’s position 4
>years ago was that he believed that some neighborhoods had too many
>billboards and he would favor moving billboards out of those
>neighborhoods to other places. He favored a “cap and replace” approach
>that would allow the billboard companies to remove billboards from some
>locations but replace them in other areas in the city. Since he did not
>respond to this yearÂ’s questionnaire, it is not possible to determine if
>this continues to be his position. The position he presented four years
>ago is consistent with discussions his office has had with members of
>Scenic Saint Paul. If his campaign replies to the questionnaire we will
>provide that information along with that provided by Dickinson and
>Coleman. Please feel free to distribute this to people who may be
>interested.
>
>The responses of Coleman and Dickinson are as follows:
>
>1. Saint Paul has just about the right number of billboards:
> Agree_______not sure______ Disagree COLEMAN/DICKINSON
>
>2. Saint Paul has too many billboards
> Agree_DICKINSON/COLEMAN not sure______ Disagree _______
>
>3. Billboards add to the vitality of the community by providing
>opportunities for businesses, nonprofit organizations and political
>candidates to promote their message.
> Agree______Not sure COLEMAN Disagree DICKINSON
>
>4. Billboards hinder development by increasing the cost of acquiring
>and redeveloping some blighted properties.
>
> Agree_DICKINSON/COLEMAN not sure______ Disagree _______
>
>5. Billboards detract from the appearance of the community
> Agree_COLEMAN/DICKINSON not sure______ Disagree _______
>
>6. Billboard companies are like any other business in the community and
>we should not be setting up barriers to their financial success.
> Agree______Not sure COLEMAN Disagree DICKINSON
>
>7. Saint Paul prohibits all new billboards. I see this as a starting
>point and will work to further reduce the number of billboards in the
>city.
> Agree_DICKINSON/COLEMAN not sure______ Disagree _______
>
>8. If I am elected mayor, my administration will not purchase
>billboards to promote city services/activities.
> Agree_COLEMAN/DICKINSON not sure______ Disagree _______
>
>9. My mayoral campaign:
> Is or will use billboards during this campaign______
> Is not and will not use billboards during this campaign__
>DICKINSON/COLEMAN
>
>
>Posted by Jeanne Weigum, volunteer, Scenic Saint Paul and living in
>billboard infested ward 4.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Jeanne Weigum
>Merriam Park, Saint Paul
>More info: http://forums.e-democracy.org​/stpaul​/contacts​/jeanneweigum
>
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