Huckleberries Online

JimH: Another Side To Sign Story

Posted by DFO

May 19, 2009 8:35 a.m. • 15 comments

RE: Trustee Edie Brooks loses dozens of signs/Huckleberries Online

Jim Hollingsworth: Some of these signs were picked up by neighbors who were very concerned to have those signs in front of their houses, since they planned to vote for Purtee. Other signs were picked up by concerned neighbors who knew that their neighbor did not want any political signs in their yard. All those signs have been returned to their rightful owners. Again, the Police Department does not enforce the sign code, so there was not much point in filing a police complaint. No one seems to be very concerned about the fact that we have lost over 50 (fifty) signs since we started putting them out. Some signs have been put out at least three times, and someone is taking them

Campaign signs missing/Maureen Dolan, CdA Press
School elections today/CdA Press

Question: What should Hollingsworth and/or others supporting the opposing candidate have done in this situation?

It is really nice to know that you are appreciated. Someone said you ought to be concerned when all speak well of you. So, when the Democrats call you “Dirty, Rotten Skum” then you know you are on the right track. Just note this comment:

KC Democratic Party site.
http://www.kootenaidemocrats.org/

If Hollingsworth is involved, you know it’s gonna be mean, nasty, and down-right dirty.

You can ask anyone who knows me if that really fits. Maybe I am missing something.

As far as the missing signs you need to know the whole story. Maybe Ms Brooks and Mr. Hemenway are totally innocent, but you have to see the other side of the story.

First off, Mr. Hemenway told me that he put up the signs for Ms Brooks, not herself.

1. The signs were put up late Friday, when it was too late to take any legal action.
2. The candidates did not get a sign permit.
3. The signs were placed on City Property, which is illegal.
4. The candidates did not get permission from the associated resident address.
5. The Coeur d’Alene Police Department said they cannot, would not enforce the law, that only the City Clerk could enforce the law, and she could not be reached until Monday.
6. Finding good sign locations and getting property owner permission to put them up is a very time consuming task. So, if you can put up a bunch of signs, with high visibility, with no concern about being in trouble, then what is to stop you? As a result, they got about three days exposure in locations that were off limits to the rest of us.

Some of these signs were picked up by neighbors who were very concerned to have those signs in front of their houses, since they planned to vote for Purtee. Other signs were picked up by concerned neighbors who knew that their neighbor did not want any political signs in their yard. All those signs have been returned to their rightful owners. Again, the Police Department does not enforce the sign code, so there was not much point in filing a police complaint.

No one seems to be very concerned about the fact that we have lost over 50 (fifty) signs since we started putting them out. Some signs have been put out at least three times, and someone is taking them. We have never had this much sign abuse in any election in the past, and it makes it clear that those who are supporting the incumbents know most of their supporting arguments are pretty hollow. As a former teacher and administrator, I know what it takes to get a good education and my hope is that new leadership will be able to provide it.

Thanks, David, for allowing us this opportunity to set the record straight.
Jim Hollingsworth jimhollingsworth@verizon.net

15 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

JBelle on May 19 at 8:42 a.m.
i’m not a voter in Kootenai County so I recognize that I should butt out. But honestly, Hollingsworth should butt out. gawd, back in the day, on this morning that man wouldn’t have a tire on his car that was in good working condition.
Cabbage Boy on May 19 at 8:44 a.m.
way to stay classy Jb
Aliasjax on May 19 at 8:46 a.m.
My suggestion for Hollingsworth is that he call Dorothy to schedule an appointment with the Wizard about getting a brain.
JBelle on May 19 at 8:47 a.m.
are you talking to me, Cabbage?
Raygun on May 19 at 8:50 a.m.
First off, Mr. Hemenway told me that he put up the signs for Ms Brooks, not herself

Funny, but a Hollingsworth/Purtee/Seymour supporter over on the CdA Press website is claiming that they have a video of Edie putting up signs illegally? I wonder if they’re lying?
JBelle on May 19 at 8:54 a.m.
yooo, Cabbage! Was that lack of class remark directed at me?
Kage_Mann on May 19 at 8:57 a.m.
Jim’s a good man.Aliasjax just jealous! ;-)
Joker on May 19 at 8:59 a.m.
If people get this nutty over a school board election, I can’t wait until the city council races in the fall.
Cabbage Boy on May 19 at 8:59 a.m.
Yes.
Bent on May 19 at 9:15 a.m.
/ducks and tries to find a back way out of this thread…
Fishwife on May 19 at 9:37 a.m.
Jim, are you serving Kool Aid at your book burning party?
Lynne on May 19 at 9:39 a.m.
I keep coming back to this thread and, every time, the first thing that comes to my mind is “what childish behavior”

*backing out, scratching head*
Joker on May 19 at 9:55 a.m.
I am reminded of a scene from Dumb and Dumber when I think about this story.

Lloyd: You’re it.
Harry: You’re it.
Lloyd: You’re it, quitsies!
Harry: Anti-quitsies, you’re it, quitsies, no anti-quitsies, no startsies!
Lloyd: You can’t do that!
Harry: Can too!
Lloyd: Cannot, stamp it!
Harry: Can too, double stamp it, no erasies!
Lloyd: Cannot, triple stamp, no erasies, Touch blue make it true.
Harry: No, you can’t do that… you can’t triple stamp a double stamp, you can’t triple stamp a double stamp! Lloyd!
Lloyd: [hands over ears] LA LA LA LA LA LA!
Harry: LLOYD! LLOYD! LLOYD!
pthompson on May 19 at 10:20 a.m.
Rumor has it there are hidden cameras on some “bait” signs waiting for the picker to come back. Best of luck
JBelle on May 19 at 1:15 p.m.
Cabbage,

Only back just now. Bet you ‘ve been holding your breath.

One thing that no one that I hold alienable and one thing that no one, especially not you, can take away from me is my childhood in Coeur d’Alene. The people, the places, the events are still vivid in my memory and the taste, smell, sound of Coeur d’Alene back in the day never ceases to delight me. It was a place and time where where greeted their neighbors with a big smile, unfailingly said Good Morning and Good Evening, minded their own business and kids played in their own yards. Things came up; things were taken care of; people might not have liked what came up nor how it was taken care of but no one ever disagreed that things will get taken care of, from time to time.

So even me, that scurilous individual who has raised those two scabby men who give each other heinous, shocking nick names, can hold fond memories of a certain justice that existed in a far more gentler time where neighbors were really were a real thing and not a marketing concept.

And with that, I bid you a Good Afternoon. I hope your children and your entire family are doing just fine.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.