Lobster Signs Generate Maine Dispute

PORTLAND, Maine – A lobsterman in a four-way race for a City Council spot was ordered to take down campaign signs attached to lobster traps.

Officials told Bill Linnell his signs placed along streets ahead of the Nov. 6 election posed a public safety and maintenance problem.

“What we don’t want to get into is a case of one-upmanship, where somebody puts signs on lobster traps, so somebody else puts theirs on an inflatable cow,” said Steve Landry, a state Transportation Department public safety engineer. “There’s a safety factor out there.”

Linnell said the traps meet state guidelines. He said he may sue the city but not until after the election.

For now, he’s using different signs, some adorned with buoys.