MCVPAC in the News:

The Buchanan County Republican Committee leased a building on Frederick.  In that lease it stated that they had the right to place signs anywhere on the building that they wanted to.  After neighbors placed Democrat signs on the building the Missourians for Conservative Values PAC created and placed two signs with the consent of the Republican Committee.  These were legitimately placed signs.

The folowing is an article that aired in the St. Joe News Press.

One of democracy’s small skirmishes played out on Frederick Avenue Monday, with Democrats and Republicans conducting a hearts-and-minds battle for a brick wall.

Call it the sort of tussle that develops as a campaign enters its final week.

The wall in question faces east on a building that houses 2601 and 2605 Frederick Ave. Early Sunday, the wall contained two signs, one promoting the presidential hopes of Democrat Barack Obama and the other championing the congressional aspirations of Democrat Kay Barnes.

By late Sunday, the wall had two more signs. One had an arrow pointing to the Obama posting and reading, in block letters, “Socialist.” The other pointed toward the Barnes sign and proclaimed “Big City Liberal.”

As shadows came onto the wall Monday afternoon, another sign went up with an arrow directed at the “Liberal” banner and declaring, “Republican Vandalism: Do You Want This Kind of Leadership?”

Know this about the building. The Buchanan County Republican Committee leased 2601 Frederick for its headquarters 11 months ago. Cafe Acoustic occupies 2605 Frederick, the east side of the building. Its owners, Beth Downey and Lisa Hancock, asked Democratic officials for the Obama and Barnes signs.

Republican signs festoon the headquarters on the west side. Bob Ott, county GOP chairman, said Monday the lease agreement specifies the renter’s right to exterior signage. He said that meant on all parts of the building.

Ms. Downey, a part-owner of the building, said the Republican signs on the east wall infringe on her opinions.

“If they’re worried about socialism ... this scares me more than anything Barack Obama could do,” she said.

Ms. Hancock, who put together the “vandalism” sign, had an equally dim view of the additions. “This is the lowest, most absurd work by adults that I’ve ever seen,” she said.

The second set of signs, screwed into the red bricks, carried a handwritten sponsorship tag reading “Missourians for Conservative Values PAC.” Its chairman, Andy Beaver, stood in an adjoining parking lot Monday and defended the signs. He also doubted the “vandalism” sign, which contained no disclaimer, complied with election laws.

While conceding more important issues beckon in this election, Mr. Beaver said the warring signs do no harm. “It’s democracy in action,” he said.

Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.