Staking Out Territory Candidate Pays Woman For Valuable Lawn Space For His Campaign Signs

Lonnie Sparks wanted his campaign yard signs on the corner of one of Spokane’s busiest intersections, so he paid a homeowner $150 and took down the signs of his rival.

The unusual maneuver by the newly appointed state representative outraged candidate Jeff Gombosky, who has filed a complaint accusing Sparks of foul play.

Sparks said his purchase of prime yard-sign real estate, at the corner of Hamilton and North Foothill Drive, reflects his appreciation for private property and his exasperation with escalating yard-sign wars in the 3rd Legislative District.

Sparks said he wanted advertising control of the property without having to worry that opponents would try to get their signs on the fence passed by about 40,000 cars a day.

He decided to make a business contract with the homeowner after he was told that fellow Democrat Gombosky had persuaded a nearby homeowner to pull a Sparks sign.

“What happened is he got some of his own medicine and he’s not mature enough to take it,” said Sparks, 51. “When I put (my sign) up I made it such that he couldn’t take it down. I don’t have time to mess with that boy.”

Gombosky was surprised by Sparks’ explanation of the clash, which draws the first blood in a three-way primary fight for the seat previously held by Dennis Dellwo.

Gombosky, 25, said Sparks shouldn’t be questioning his maturity since the attorney wasn’t mature enough to tell Gombosky he’d pulled his signs down.

From Gombosky’s vantage, the yard-sign caper went like this:

His wife, Melissa, got permission to put campaign signs up in the coveted corner yard in July. Two weeks later, he discovered his signs had been replaced by Sparks’.

Gombosky said he figured the homeowners had decided to support Sparks. Instead, he learned Sparks paid homeowner April Schierer $150.

“We don’t have the money in our campaign funds to go around and offer people money to put signs up,” Gombosky said, adding such deals made it difficult for low-budget campaigns to compete.

Jimmy Sirmans, chairman of the Spokane County Democratic Party, told Gombosky that county Democrats would investigate the matter if there was proof of the transaction.

Last week, Gombosky got three sworn affidavits from the homeowners and a neighbor attesting to the deal. He wrote Sirmans, asking the party to reprimand Sparks.

Efforts to reach Sirmans for comment were unsuccessful.

Sparks’ yard-sign maneuver doesn’t violate any election laws.

“It sounds like free enterprise to me,” said Vicki Rippie of the state Public Disclosure Commission.

But the president of the Spokane Area League of Women Voters doesn’t approve. “I don’t think we would appreciate people paying to put signs up,” she said. “That would undermine the whole democratic process.”

Val Smith, the third Democrat candidate in the race for the House seat, called Sparks’ yard sign deal “totally inappropriate and unethical. It’s the kind of thing that makes people like me not want to be involved in the political process.”

Sparks can’t believe the hullabaloo.

While he has leased five billboards, Sparks has only about 100 yard signs out, compared to about 600 each for Gombosky and Smith, according to their campaigns.

“I just want to keep a dignified presence with yard signs,” he said. “That’s my goal.”

The agreement Sparks struck with the Hamilton Street resident gives Sparks exclusive control of all political advertising on the lot until Nov. 5.

April Schierer said she had already agreed to let Sparks put up his signs by the time he offered her the money.

Sparks gave her the cash, she speculated, to help her fix the broken windows in her home. “He offered me $150 out of sympathy,” she said. “It was really nice of him.”

Sparks said he might consider similar yard-sign arrangements at other homes.

He stressed that his philosophy on yard signs reflects his respect for property owners, and contrasted his tax-paying history with that of Gombosky, who has yet to own a home.

“My opponent hasn’t paid property taxes in his life, and doesn’t know the value of property.”

Gombosky laughed at the remark. “To claim that I don’t have respect for private property is awfully bold, seeing how he hasn’t talked to me about it.”

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