Sign wars heat up in supervisor election campaigns

October 6, 2014

By KAREN VELIE

Update: John Brunsfield, a retired attorney, said he purchased and put out signs that say “Lynn Compton is a fraud.” Brunsfield said he is not affiliated with any campaign and put the signs out after receiving slate mailers from Compton that make it appear she is a Democrat.

“Compton is trying to fool the voters into thinking she is a Democrat,” Brunsfield said. “One said, attention AG Democrats, and said to take the flyer to the polls. It recommended all Democrats except for Compton.”

Original: It is less than a month to the November election and sign wars, mudslinging and character assassinations are in full swing in the battle for the San Luis Obispo County District 4 supervisor seat.

In Nipomo, Oceano and Arroyo Grande, hundreds of signs ask voters to select either Caren Ray, a sitting supervisor, or Nipomo businesswoman Lynn Compton. And now, dozens of signs are being placed next to elect Compton signs that say “Compton is a fraud.”

Compton supporter Cameron Smith confronted a man placing a sign on the property of a Compton supporter. Smith said the man claimed Compton, a Republican, had said she was a Democrat and that is why they are calling her a fraud.

During the primary, Compton’s campaign paid to include her in a slate mailer. Slate mailers often recommend a candidate of one party alongside prominent candidates from the opposing party. While legal in California, the mailers deceive some voters.

Smith said he removed the anti-Compton signs because it was illegally placed.

Typically, candidates get permission from supporters to place signs on private property. Campaign signs are not permitted on publicly owned lands such as parks or public right of ways like highway on-ramps.

 

Ray’s campaign has placed dozens of signs in public right-of-ways that have been taken down by city, county and state employees. Some of Compton’s signs have exceeded size limits and were removed by Arroyo Grande code enforcement.

Last month, the Ray Campaign claimed a planned fundraiser for Compton involving “hobo stew” showed contempt for the homeless. Ray supporter SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill chimed in, encouraging others to forward an email by Ray’s campaign treasure slamming Compton’s fundraiser.

The story went national and led to angry threats of violence.

Back in July, Ray said someone shot a BB thorough her window and she deduced from the angle of the hole in her window and the screen, it was done on purpose by a 6 foot or taller person standing in her yard. The supervisor said the shooting appeared to be politically motivated.

However, police officers said it was likely children playing with BB guns in a wooded area near the supervisor’s home.

Compton has slammed Ray on her voting record and argues the sitting supervisor’s vote on a legislative platform was an attempt to chip away at Proposition 13.

Meanwhile, both candidates are lining up support and gathering donations as they prepare for their seventh debate on Friday which is to be held at the South County Community Center in Arroyo Grande.

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