Politics, Public Property, and the Tone of Our Democracy

As Election Day draws near, the political temperature in Columbus continues to rise. Campaign signs, banners, and public displays of support have become increasingly visible across the city — including on overpasses and public structures — raising important questions not only about campaign conduct, but about respect for the law, public safety, and the tone of civic engagement in our community.

Let’s be clear: freedom of speech is one of the cornerstones of American democracy. People have a constitutional right to express political opinions, support candidates, and engage in the public debate. But with those rights also comes responsibility.

Federal and state campaign finance laws require political advertisements and signage to clearly disclose who paid for them. In addition, banners attached to overpasses, bridges, and other public infrastructure may violate transportation and safety regulations, particularly if they obstruct visibility, create distractions for motorists, or pose a danger of falling onto roadways.

Across the country, transportation departments routinely remove unauthorized political banners from public structures, citing safety concerns and improper use of government property. Columbus should be no different.

This issue is bigger than a banner.

What we are witnessing is part of a broader political climate where emotions are escalating and civility is increasingly being pushed aside. The closer we move toward Election Day, the more aggressive the rhetoric becomes. Personal attacks, public accusations, and politically charged stunts may energize a base, but they also contribute to a culture of division and distrust.

The people of Columbus deserve spirited campaigns grounded in ideas, vision, and solutions — not tactics that test legal boundaries or inflame tensions unnecessarily.

Public property belongs to everyone. It should not become a battleground for political gamesmanship or unauthorized advertising. If laws and ordinances exist governing signage and campaign disclosures, then they should be followed consistently regardless of political affiliation, ideology, or candidate preference.

What is most concerning is not simply the placement of signs, but the growing willingness to ignore standards, rules, and accountability in pursuit of political advantage. Once campaigns begin operating as though the rules only apply to “the other side,” public confidence in the integrity of the process begins to erode.

At a time when trust in government and institutions is already fragile, our community should be moving toward greater transparency, greater accountability, and greater respect for the democratic process — not away from it.

This election season will eventually pass. The signs will come down. The rhetoric will fade. But the damage done to public trust, civic unity, and political discourse can linger long after the votes are counted.

Columbus deserves better than political chaos masquerading as activism. We deserve leadership — and leadership begins with respecting both the law and the community we all share.