Since my son-in-law and I built an office building on the corner of 8th N. and 8th East in Orem, it has become a magnet for all local politicians desiring sign placement during election cycles. Over the years we have been approached by mayoral and city council candidates to place signs on our property. Before we say yes, we want to meet with the candidates and know that they represent and reflect our priorities for the community as well as our values. If we are satisfied that the given candidate best represents our views, we allow them to put the sign on the property which, besides being very visible on a high trafficked road/intersection, it represents an endorsement of myself and my son-in-law to all those that know us.

This year, we have had a few, including a Provo mayoral candidate, place signs on our property without asking. We immediately took them down and disposed of them.

I give this background to suggest that I relate to a Woodbury Co. in allowing candidates to place signage on their commercial, high trafficked property. Like Woodbury Corp., I want to know where the candidate stands on issues that are important to me before I allow them to put signage on my property and get a form of endorsement from me. If I find out that I was given lip service to get the sign placed and the candidate is talking out of both sides of his mouth, I will immediately remove and dispose of the sign. My son-in-law and I could reduce this exercise to a written agreement like Woodbury does, but the only binding factor of that agreement, like with Woodbury, is the signage, whether it stays or goes during the election cycle. If the candidates express opinions different than what they agreed to either verbally or in writing, then they lose that endorsement reflected by signage on the commercial as well as on front lawn of home (as in my case).

The bottom line is this issue is not about someone doing something immoral or unethical and agreeing to sell their future votes for sign placement, it is agreeing to continue to support something that was put into place in 2013 and has been a great financial benefit to Orem and continues to do so. The only binding part of the agreement is whether the signs stays or is taken down if a candidate waffles on that support during the time up to election day. After signs are taken down and election is over, a candidate or now elected official has no contract or agreement in place and no recourse by the property owner, such as myself, except to make sure he doesn’t get to place any signs on my property if he runs for re-election.

Frank Davis is the owner of Optivida Health in Orem.