The election season has come and gone – finally.

Because of more contested General Election races than we are used to seeing in our region, the election season has lasted longer than normally. That means we have been bombarded by advertisements, campaigning and what has become the biggest eyesore – political signs.

We support everyone’s right to have signs in their own yard and to have those monikers displayed in your place of business. There is even some forgiveness for candidates to put these signs on the highway right-of-way.

Too many times the candidates and their supporters get carried away. There were many places in the Roanoke-Chowan region that you could find one candidate with five or six signs all within 10 feet of each other.

But all of that is no longer relevant. The election of 2010 is now one for the record books. Those who have claimed victory must get ready to work. Those who did not, must get ready for the next phase of life.

Before either gets too busy with their next step, however, we ask that they clean up their signs that are scattered throughout the region unless they happen to be on private property. It is the responsibility of those who put them down to pick them up.

We appreciate all of those who have already made a concerted effort to get those signs up. The benefit is not only making the roadways nicer, but showing the electorate you are a responsible person.

Take a few minutes and let’s get our roadways and intersections looking good again.

The Roanoke-Chowan New-Herald