Candidate Charles “Chuck” Sheridan Criticizes Campaign Yard Signs, Emphasizes Community Engagement
Brevard County, FL – Charles “Chuck” Sheridan, a longtime resident of Brevard County and candidate for Florida Senate District 19, recently shared his thoughts on campaign yard signs, labeling them as costly, impractical, and ultimately detrimental to his electoral chances. Sheridan’s candid message reflects a growing sentiment among some political candidates who prefer more personal and direct forms of voter engagement. He’s a Republican facing legally troubled Randy Fine in the Republican Primary in August.
In his statement, Sheridan apologized to supporters who had requested yard signs, stating, “They are expensive and a waste of limited campaign resources.” He went on to describe his negative experiences with yard signs in past elections, citing issues such as storm damage and their tendency to become traffic hazards and eyesores. Sheridan argued that the name recognition gained from these signs is mostly negative, as they are seen primarily while people are driving and can serve as distractions. The recent Republican Straw Poll may provide evidence of his message. Despite campaigning for nearly 2 years, spending endless amounts on thousands of signs, highly paid campaign staff, and over a million dollars from special interest groups, Fine barely won the poll by only 10 votes; 227 to 217.
In contrast, Fine’s focus has been almost exclusively on yard signs. According to his own campaign finance reports, he paying individuals thousands of dollars to put signs in people’s yards across the county. Many have complained that signs have been placed in their property, and they never asked for nor wanted one. many of them have been placed illegally in the right of way.
