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BRIDGET HALL GRUMETSupervisor of Elections Kurt Browning switches his stand on anonymous political signs that target three candidates. He calls the signs "potentially illegal."
The mysterious sign caper began last weekend, when an anonymous antagonist planted the mustard yellow placards all over Pasco County.
"Ann Hildebrand. Peter Altman. Kathryn Starkey," read the signs, referring to two county commissioners and a School Board candidate, respectively. The word "Vote" is crossed out in favor of the alternative: "None of the Above."
Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning thought the signs were "potentially illegal."
The responsible party, according to the signs, was "The Real People Who Know Pasco Deserves Better" - a backer who has not filed any of the paperwork required for individuals or groups spreading a political message.
So first thing Tuesday morning, an hour before voters started trickling into the polls, Browning issued an order.
"I instructed my poll workers to take (the signs) down," Browning said. "When I did," he added, "the culprit became unglued."
Browning pointed the finger at environmental activist Clay Colson, who instantly complained to Browning's office about the sign snatchings. Colson even called Hillsborough elections officials, who told him the supervisor lacks the right to remove political signs.
"We live in a country that has the First Amendment for the freedom of speech," Colson said. "Someone was exercising their freedom of speech."
Although in this case, Colson said, that "someone" was not him.
"I had nothing to do with (the signs), but I certainly agree wholeheartedly with them and if you look around the county, I think you'll find I'm not alone, nor are they," said Colson, a slow-growth advocate who has filed numerous ethics and elections complaints against Hildebrand.
Browning reversed his sign stance midmorning, telling poll workers to leave the signs alone and replace any they already removed.
"It probably was not a wise move to prohibit the signs in the first place," Browning acknowledged, "even though they appear to be illegal."
If an individual spends more than $100 spreading a political message, he or she must file paperwork with Browning's office detailing where the money is coming from and how it's being spent, he said. If two or more people spend more than $500 pushing a political cause, they must file with Browning's office as a political action committee.
No one with "The Real People Who Know Pasco Deserves Better" has done that.
And Colson - who knows the culprit but refuses to name him or her - doesn't expect anyone will.
"I was trying to convince them that they should talk to the news media," Colson said. "They have said they worked too hard to get where they are today and they fear retribution from these morons, and they're not about to put themselves in that position."
Times staff writer Rebecca Catalanello contributed to this report.
Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com