Sign Wars!

About this time every election cycle, the sign wars start to heat up. This year is about the worst I can recall in recent memory for proliferation of signs, like weeds, along the roadways of Marin County, down the median strips, over the highway on overpass bridges, every empty space is now filled with signs for every candidate in this most crowded campaign year.

Two notable races are the one for Marin Superior Court - 9 people for one seat - and the one for Supervisor, District 4 - 8 people for one seat.

And almost all of them have signs. Big signs, little signs; signs that proclaim their coveted Sierra Club endorsement (this year shared by two of the District 4 candidates, just to further confuse the issue.)

Letters to the editor have started too, a recent one calling out a judicial candidate for signs that appear to imply she is the incumbent (there is no incumbent). Another candidate whose signs could also have been interpreted that way, has changed them for ones that more closely comport with the canons of judicial ethics, which all judge candidates must follow.

Soon the complaints of stolen signs, defaced signs, obscured signs, will begin. Already some of the candidates are moving their signs up higher on the poles than their opponents.

Of course, seasoned campaigners and readers of this blog know that signs don't vote; they don't influence voters (at least no more than 2.5% according to one, overly optimistic - in my opinion - study.).

But I have lost the sign wars. My candidates like all the others, spends  time slapping up the signs, rather than talking to potential donors, so that she can pay for that all important mail, with a message that actually gets into every voter's' hands.

So go ahead and put up your signs. But please, do it legally. Know the rules in your jurisdiction. Try to get them on private property, in neighborhoods or shop windows, where at least passersby and customers can register that someone they know supports you and not the other myriad of candidates vying for attention.

In the meantime, the weather is warming up and it might be a nice time for a soothing cucumber martini to calm your nerves after a tough day battling the Sign Wars.
 

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Vodka
• 1/2 ounce Lime Juice (1/2 lime)
• 2-3 slices of Fresh Cucumber
• 2 mint leaves
• 1/2 ounce Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup:
 
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 cup water

Instructions

Simple Syrup:
1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water, stirring constantly.
3. Once the sugar is dissolved completely, remove the pan from the heat.
4. Allow to cool completely and thicken, then store in refrigerator for up to one week

Cocktail:
 
5. In a martini shaker, add 1 cucumber slice and 1 mint leaf and crush with spoon. Add fresh ice vodka, lime juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a cucumber slice and 1 mint leaf.