Commissioner Questions Wildwood Candidates’ Political Lawn Signs

WILDWOOD — The recall election is set in this city for Dec. 8 and as the date draws closer, political signs continue to dot this city’s landscape.
The most prevalent signs are “Reject the lies. Reject the recall. Vote no Dec. 8,” paid for by the committee to elect Commissioner Bill Davenport and Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., and “Hey Wildwood, had enough taxes yet?” paid for the committee to elect Al Brannen and Ed Harshaw.
However, according to Commissioner Gary DeMarzo, some residents and businesses are not happy about the political signs decorating their lawns.
“I was inundated with phone calls over the past week about lawn signs in locations that were not approved, not allowed or just not wanted,” DeMarzo said in an e-mail to Davenport, Troiano, City Solicitor Marcus Karavan, the City Code Enforcement Officer Brian Neil and various media outlets.
He listed Wawa, CVS, Walgreens, Leigh Valley Dairy, Fox Park and St. Simeon’s By-The-Sea Church as the properties where there are issues with the signs.
“A quick ride through the City you will find the signs on countless public right ways,” he wrote and added that he had numerous photos to back up his claim.
“I hope that you address this situation immediate or I will be forced to take the appropriate legal action,” DeMarzo added.
Troiano responded that he and his committee had asked permission at every location be-fore installing any signage.
“Why would I want to make someone mad by placing a sign on a property when it is not wanted?” Troiano said.
“This is the fourth campaign I have been involved in,” he added. “I know the law when it comes to placing political signs better than most people.”
According to Troiano, signs for his campaign have been stolen, moved to other locations and found in the trash. Troiano said he believed the political opposition was responsible for stealing signs and then placing them on different property.
“We caught people stealing them,” he said. “A few by the Marvis Dinner keep disappear-ing along with those on Pacific and New Jersey avenues.”