Motorists passing the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. 19 over the past few days have been treated to a sign touting Republican Anna Liisa Covell's candidacy for the District 5 Hernando County Commission seat. She is one of five Republicans vying for the chance to unseat County Commission Chairwoman Betty Whitehouse, a Democrat.
It appears Weeki Wachee mayor and tourist attraction manager Robyn Anderson is a Covell fan. Anderson was not available for comment, but Covell said her relationship with the park and Anderson goes back to the mid 1990s, and that her electrical company often does free work for Weeki Wachee.
"I see it as a sign of her appreciation and friendship," Covell said of Anderson. "I have gotten a lot of support from Weeki Wachee."
The city of Weeki Wachee became the owner of the tourist attraction in August. That's when the park's private ownership group turned its company - Weeki Wachee Springs LLC - over to the city.
Questioned about whether the sign violated any laws, state and local officials said Weeki Wachee's Covell sign is fine.
Florida's election code does not address the question of whether governments can erect political signs on public land, said Jenny Nash, press secretary for the Department of State.
"It's a municipal issue whether it's an appropriate use of public resources," Nash said.
Some jurisdictions, like Hernando County, for example, prohibit signs endorsing candidates on public land. But Weeki Wachee attorney Joe Mason said the question is moot.
He contends that, legally speaking, the tourist attraction is a private company that is responsible for itself, even though it is owned by the city.
He says the sign belongs to the attraction, not the city. "It is not city property," Mason said. "The city has no interest whatsoever in that property."
- Will Van Sant can be reached at 754-6127. Send e-mail to vansant@sptimes.com
