Campaign signs a small but important matter

The Nevada Secretary of State could decide any time now whether mayoral candidate Sean Lehmann's signs are misleading voters to think he's the incumbent.

That concern was raised by Clerk/Treasurer Alan Glover, who said Lehmann's signs and those of fellow candidate Jim Shirk (who has since removed his signs) violated state law.

A small matter perhaps, but we applaud Glover for his tenacity in ensuring the election is fair by raising the issue. There is no election matter too insignificant when it comes to fulfilling that function of his office, even if it's only a missing word on a sign.

In this case, it's fortunate the signs aren’t likely to sway the election. For one thing, it's not likely that many people (at least those inclined to vote) have forgotten who the mayor really is — three-termer Marv Teixeira. The charismatic mayor, who is not running for re-election, is both credited with great successes and accused of major missteps (including a well-publicized DUI conviction).

In fact, one would also have to question, in these troubled economic times, whether there's an advantage to being an incumbent, something Gov. Gibbons might wrestle with himself in a few years. After all, Carson City has financial troubles and is at a crossroads on issues ranging from gang-related crime to economic development.

The sign issue will soon be resolved and forgotten. And that’s fortunate ... in all fairness, there are a lot of major issues to talk about.

This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board. Watch for in-depth profiles of the candidates and their views in the July 26 edition of the Appeal. The primary will be Aug. 12. People can register to vote in person at the Clerks Office for the primary election until 9 p.m. on July 22. Early voting for the primary will be July 26-Aug. 8.