Since we are about two weeks from Election Day, we are seeing all types of campaign signs around the state. Since there are so many, I decided to pick out a couple of winners. You will see photos of them later in this column.

Candidates use signs to get their name out into the public. It’s one of the cheaper ways of promoting your candidacy – the old name ID thing. I’ve put up probably close to a half a million signs in my life for the candidates I supported (but none this election season). I could pound in some rebar and attach a sign with wire to the rebar in just a few minutes. A plastic sign on a wire is a piece of cake. It’s an art…

Some businesses allow candidates to place their signs on their business property. This can have an effect on who visits an establishment and who does not. I never used a business when I found out they were supporting a candidate I did not like.

Here are a couple of photos of unnamed businesses allowing candidates to post signs on their business property.

Campaign signs do define a candidate. The color is important. Some folks use school colors for their signs if they are running for office just in that school’s area. Statewide candidates sometimes use Montana Griz colors in the Missoula area and Montana State Bobcat colors in the Bozeman area.

Another important thing is making sure your last name is in big bold letters so it can be seen. The other important thing is to ensure the required legal info is on each sign.

It’s advertising at its best!

So, here are my winners for this year’s best 2010 campaign sign contest. In keeping with my independence, I selected one Democrat and one Republican. There are no prizes, just some free publicity on this widely read website!  I saw plenty of bad-looking signs, too.  But we’ll keep with best ones.  

Here’s the Republican one, from Jim Whitaker running for Senate District 11:

Whitaker’s sign says, “A Vote for a Democrat is a Vote for Obama. Stop the Spending.”   Neat.

To say I “love” this next sign is an understatement.  It helps if your last name is “Love” and you are running for office. 

My other favorite sign is from Lindsay Love who is running for House District 25:

Really…who does not have “Love for Montana.”  Nice. 

Congratulations to candidates Jim Whitaker and Lindsay Love and good luck. 

If you have a neat looking campaign sign in your area, send me a picture. I might publish it.  Don’t forget to vote.  It’s important!