
Responding to the inquiry over his failure to properly label his political signs, Dean Browning updated the Lehigh County Office of Voter Registration and Elections. Dean's message follows.
Thank you for bring this matter to my attention. My name is on the yard sign and I listed the purchase on the campaign finance report for my committee so they were indeed paid for by Browning For County Executive. It was my oversight in proof reading that a disclaimer to that point was not listed on the signs. While that requirement may be more from over substance (particularly for signs viewed at 60 miles an hour on Rt. 22), the fact is that rules are rules. As we discussed yesterday, I'm happy to correct the situation by putting stickers on the signs that have been placed. I've attached a photo of one corrected sign. I will be sending the stickers to those individuals that requested signs for their yards and I will tell my volunteers to put them on any signs they have placed or any others that they may encounter as they are traveling through out Lehigh County.
Thanks again
Dean N. Browning
I'm offended in Dean's attempt to attack the disclaimer, the law's most public requirement, as form over substance in order to excuse his omission. A more appropriate response would have been simply, I'm sorry. We have corrected the problem.
Elections are governed by laws designed to provide transparency for voters and particularly with respect to who is financially supporting those running for office. Candidates are required to display who paid for all of their communications from yard signs to mailers. . . . The voting public can then know who the financial backers of a candidate are and incorporate this information into their voting decision. When candidates fail to follow the rules, the voting public is denied a basic right at law.



