A Sign Ahead of Its Time?

With an election still months away, some City Council races are already heating up with accusations. District 6 Council candidate Jimmy Flannigan has taken aim at his incumbent Don Zimmerman for allegedly posting campaign signs a little too early.

Campaign signs may not be posted prior to 90 days (Aug. 10 in this case) before an election (and must be removed within 10 days after the election), along TxDOT roadways, as per Texas Ethics Commission rules via TxDOT.

Flannigan charges Zimmerman has violated the timeline with signs at U.S. 183 Southbound between Balcones Woods Drive and Braker Lane and at U.S. 183 Northbound between McNeil Road and Anderson Mill Road. Flannigan claims a TxDOT representative said they didn't have the "time or resources" to check out the allegations, so his campaign is going to put up their own signs, he tells the Chronicle. (A TxDOT official told the Chronicle they were checking to see if the signs violate the 90-day rule but did not have a conclusion as of press time.)

The Zimmerman camp say they received a call from Austin Code about concerns over the campaign signs and are ready to comply if Code finds a violation. "If they find we aren't in compliance in any way, shape, or form, I will personally pull all the signs myself," says Tim Kelly of the Zimmerman campaign. "We don't play dirty." He assured that the property owners have sanctioned the postings, positioned on private property.