It has been two years since the formation of Scenic Lafayette, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the visual character of the community. One of the leading causes of blight on Lafayette’s roadsides is illegal signage. Consequently, Scenic Lafayette has as a main goal, the strengthening of signage laws and signage enforcement. Because this is an election season, our main objective is to raise awareness about Lafayette Consolidated Government’s political sign law.

This past summer Scenic Lafayette contacted all candidates running for office in Lafayette Parish to inform and to ask them to conform to the political sign ordinance. The political sign segment of the Lafayette Consolidated Government sign ordinance states, “a sign may be placed upon initiation of the temporary event (political initiation is 90 days prior to the last day of qualification of candidates for the candidate, election or proposition election), and must be removed by the person who erected it within 14 days after the event terminates”.

Scenic Lafayette is extremely grateful for the current slate of political candidates and their conformity with regards to the “initiation” (placement) aspect of the sign ordinance. We now respectfully request each candidate’s conformity with the “termination” (sign pickup) aspect of the ordinance, which will be 14 days following the Nov. 8 elections for some candidates and the Dec. 10 elections for others.

Running for office is a noble endeavor. We sincerely appreciate the candidates who volunteered for public service. We, in advance, appreciate them for adhering to the will of the people.

Stafford Barnett, Scenic Lafayette Sign Committee Chair