GREENSBORO, N.C. — If you have been outside in the past few weeks there’s a better than good chance you’ve seen several political signs supporting candidates stuck on the side of our roadways and in neighbor’s yards.
Driving more than a mile is almost impossible without seeing at least one sign supporting a candidate.
Many homeowners have placed signs in their yards supporting a candidate they like. Karen Harouach rents a house in Greensboro, but that didn’t stop her from putting a couple of presidential signs in her front yard.
“I put out two signs and then I got a letter from the HOA saying I needed to take my signs down,” Harouach said.
The signs were apparently in violation of the community bylaws, and Harouach was told to remove them or face a possible fine.
“I was upset, it goes against my 1st Amendment rights,” Harouach said.
Despite the letter informing her the signs were in violation Harouach didn’t take the signs down. She decided to email the HOA and ask why she was required to remove them.
“They basically said there’s a certain statute and I can’t have signs out unless it is a (for sale) or rent sign,” Harouach said.
At this point Harouach isn’t sure what else to do so she calls WFMY News 2.
We suggested she pull up a copy of the community covenants and bylaws, to see the exact policy. It turns out there is nothing that precludes Harouach or any resident from putting a political sign in the yard.
“She (the HOA manager) apologized to me and let me know she was wrong and that she should have done more research (before sending the violation letter),” Harouach said.
The good news is the signs are allowed to stay but that also means the giant banner her neighbor put up a few days later supporting the other Presidential candidate can also stay. But, all political signs in the community must be removed seven days after the election.