Vicksburg Police Patrolman E.J. Wilkerson, Lt. Chip Denman and Patrolman Hanitra Austin look at signs beneath the stairs of the Vicksburg’s Street Department as Ray Banks, head of the city’s right-of-way department, looks on Wednesday. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[05/31/01] Independent candidate for mayor Laurence Leyens said Wednesday after finding four campaign signs at the Vicksburg Street Department that city employees have been illegally picking up his signs.

Along with the four Leyens signs he found under a stairway alongside a city building were two campaign signs for Joe Loviza, also an independent candidate for mayor, and one for Rodney Dillamar, who lost in the Democratic primary race to North Ward Alderman Gertrude Young. There were no signs for any other candidates for city office, including the two incumbents seeking re-election.

“We’ve had a number of people notify us of signs being pulled, but when the city employees are involved it’s completely different,” Leyens said. “All I want is a fair race.”

Leyens said when he went to the city impoundment on North Washington, he was initially told none of his signs were there. He spotted them himself.

A city ordinance makes it illegal to place any sign, political or otherwise, in the city’s right-of-way. Under that ordinance, the owners of the signs are to be given 24-hour notice by the code enforcement officer before the city confiscates the signs and keeps them at the shop for pickup.

Leyens said he had been notified by the City Clerk’s Office about three signs in the city’s right-of-way and moved those signs within an hour.

“We’ve lost somewhere between 300 and 500 signs,” he said.

Loviza, who served as mayor from 1993 to 1997, said he had been notified about one sign a week ago and he had moved it that day. He said he had not noticed many signs missing.

“Not any more than usual,” Loviza said. “As far as I’m concerned, the city is just doing it’s job.”

Leyens called Vicksburg Police and filed a complaint. Taking signs is illegal and the total value of 500 signs at $3 each adds up to $1,500 making their theft grand larceny.

Lt. Chip Denman, code enforcement officer, said he had not notified Leyens about any signs in the city’s right-of-way.

Ray Banks, head of the city’s right-of-way department, said he had not known the signs were under the stairs next to the department’s office. Public works director James “Bubba” Rainer said there are simply too many political signs for the city to keep up with every one.

“Every candidate has signs in the right-of-way,” Rainer said. “It’s very difficult to enforce all of the signs.”

The right-of-way is municipal property beyond the street pavement where street signs, fire hydrants and sidewalks are placed. The distance from the curb varies at different locations. Signs or stickers are also not allowed on any utility poles or traffic signs. Small signs on private property are not regulated.

The four signs discovered at the street department were returned to him.

Vicksburg voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in the three municipal races. Leyens, 37, and Loviza, 61, are going up against Democratic nominee Mayor Robert Walker, 57, and independent candidate Eva Marie Ford, 63, in a winner takes all race for mayor.

In the North Ward race, Young, 45, is facing independent candidate Sylvester Walker, 40. For the South Ward seat, the names of Republican nominee Sidney H. Beauman Jr., 53; Democratic nominee Pam Johnson, 35, and independent candidates Vickie Bailey, 33, and Ashlea Mosley, 18, will appear on the ballot.