NATCHEZ — Adams County elections are more than two months away, but campaign signs are already posted around town.

A previous city ordinance that restricted the use of campaign signs until 60 days prior to election day has been changed, City Planner Bob Nix said.

“The Board (of Aldermen) passed an ordinance around 2005 that amended that code,” he said.

Incumbent Judge Charles L. “Charlie” Vess began campaigning as soon as he got the go ahead.

“I had some concerns about (putting out signs),” Vess said. “Most all of us thought (we could only start) 60 days before election.”

Upon speaking with Nix and learning about the amended starting date, Vess began his campaign with a few signs members of the community requested.

“I wanted (my campaign) to be legal, especially since I’m a judicial candidate,” he said.

However, the start date is not the only restriction imposed on campaigns signs. According to Natchez City ordinances, signs must be placed only on private property or kiosks in public with the permission of the property owner.

These properties include telephone poles, which belong to utility companies.

“(But) there are exceptions that apply (in Natchez) during major tourism events,” Nix clarified.

Moreover, signs cannot crowd streets — they must be at least five feet from the pavement and 100 feet from the nearest curb intersection from any street or road to avoid traffic interference.

If a campaign sign were to be displayed before ordinances allow, Nix said the city would take action.

“The first thing we’ll do is contact the property owner and ask them to take the sign down until the qualifying deadline has passed,” he said. “If they don’t comply, we’ll contact the candidate and ask them for assistance to bring the campaign into compliance.”

Following that, Nix said, the property owner will be issued a notice that gives him or her a set amount of time to remove the sign before further legal action is taken, which could include fines of up to $100 per every day the sign is left out prior to the qualifying deadline.

But those instances are rare.

“People are usually pretty compliant,” Nix said.

Billboards can announce that a person is running for office, as long as they are not “morally offensive to the community,” Nix said, and as long as it’s displayed only after obtaining a permit and only within the time constraints of that permit.

Aside from signs, Vess is employing the use of literature.

“I’ve been putting together direct mail and advertising in (various) media outlets,” he said.

Thus far on his campaign, Vess said he’s spent about $3,200 of the $6,000 or $7,000 he raised.

“I bought a few

hundred yard signs, and I had some banners left over from the last campaign,” he said.