Anaheim : Dispute Over Campaign Sign Removal Is Settled

City Councilman Fred Hunter, who last week said he would fight the city in court before paying it more than $1,000 for the removal of illegal campaign signs, said Tuesday his campaign committee will foot the bill for him.

During a council meeting Tuesday, Councilman Irv Pickler asked Hunter why he was planning to fight the city in small claims court next month.

Hunter said he would have the Committee to Elect Fred Hunter pay the $1,024.48 bill for removing 337 signs if the city would amend its bill to name the committee rather than Hunter personally. City Manager William O. Talley agreed to amend the billing.

Anaheim sued Hunter and William D. Ehrle, also a candidate in last year’s council election, for the cost of removing and storing political campaign signs placed illegally in public spots. The city charged Ehrle $212 for removing 70 signs.

A city official said the lawsuits were “normal business” in cases of nonpayment. Both Hunter and Ehrle called the lawsuits unconstitutional and accused the city of selective enforcement, among other things, in pledging to fight them.