TITLE
An Ordinance requiring candidates for elections in Allegheny County to take all reasonable steps to ensure that political signs advocating his or her election are properly cleaned up and disposed of.
BODY
Whereas, the right of candidates to campaign and display political signs is an important right of free speech;
Whereas, ugly litter from political signs following elections in Allegheny County has been a prevalent problem for many years, littering our highways and roadsides, and negatively affecting the aesthetic quality and natural beauty of our region;
Whereas, persons who take advantage of the opportunity to seek elected office ought to be personally responsible for properly cleaning up and disposing of political signs that advocate their election;.
Whereas, the County Council has determined that county-wide elections and clean-up thereafter constitutes an affair of the County; and
Whereas, the County has a strong interest in requiring post-election clean-up while being sure not to infringe upon the right of free speech.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Removal of Signage
Any candidate for an elected position in Allegheny County who posts advocates his or her election through the posting of political signs on public property in Allegheny County within ninety (90) days preceding in a primary, general or special election in this County shall 1) abide by all lawful local ordinances which are applicable to such signage; 2) cause the removal and clean-up of the same by the earlier of a) the date such removal and clean-up is lawfully required by applicable local ordinance or b) within ten (10) days following any said election; and 3)shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that political signs advocating his or her election are properly cleaned up and disposed of within ten (10) days immediately following the election; 2) shall comply with any applicable local ordinances regarding the posting ...
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