Signs posted on private property on the north side of US 90 near the Little St. Mary's River.

Political season is in full bloom in Baker County, as evidenced by a proliferation of campaign signs that began sprouting like flowers — or weeds — in front of homes and businesses and in open fields last week.

Candidates need to keep one thing in mind, however. New rules imposed by the county regulate the placement of those signs, including when and where they may go up, how long they can remain on display and when they must come down.

A new campaign sign ordinance was enacted by the Baker County Commission on the evening of July 3 — one day before signs could legally be erected. The ordinance states that campaign signs may be displayed “no more than 30 days prior to the commencement of the early voting period for any election … in Baker County …”

Early voting this year will begin on August 4, a Saturday, and run continuously through August 11 from 8 am to 6 pm daily at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Macclenny. The primary election will be on August 14.

Unlike previous election years when candidates were given 48 hours to remove campaign signs, the new ordinance allows a more generous five days within which to remove signs, which commissioners agree is much more reasonable.

“Elections are held on Tuesday, so that gives you until the following Sunday to get them all down,” Commission Chairman Gordon Crews said on July 7. “Forty-eight hours was quick and it was hard to do on weekdays.”

It’s especially difficult, he said, when hundreds of signs county-wide must be collected, such as the 400 to 500 signs he said he put out during his first race for the District 3 commission seat.

“It took me forever to get them all back,” Commissioner Crews said, adding, however, that he won’t be putting out that many signs this year, even though he is facing opposition, because they are becoming too expensive to make.