Sign says election is big business

WEST CARROLLTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The field of 188 campaign signs is called "The Farm".

It's a place where the signs grow faster than the grass, although the only animals you'll find in this barnyard are political ones.

"Our opposition has been kind enough to cuss us, give us the finger and yell at us, which is understood whole heartedly," says Rick Dobson, in whose yard the signs are located.

Dobson's field in West Carrollton is either in need of a good reaping or sowing the seeds of success, depending on your point of view.

But there's no denying that it's a cash crop.

"It's pretty big business," Dobson says. "A lot of money goes down."

When he's not filling his yard with political signs, Dobson is selling them.

His company Randd Associates creates campaign signs and flyers.

"We have to help them design it so it has the right impact, says the right words and most important we have to make sure the spelling's right," Dobson says.

Once the letters line up, the signs are printed at places like Fleet Graphics before they end up in yards across the area.

When it comes to campaigning, Dobson says signs will always have his vote.

"If you don't have any signs people might not remember who you are," Dobson says. "If the signs are in the community you get the constant name recognition as you drive by whether going to the store, the pharmacy, the gas station."

Dobson mostly does signs for Republican candidates but says he has done Democrats in the past and wouldn't turn down their business because for him all the campaigning is also a sign of something else, a great democracy.

"In this country, we can make our statements and go to a ballgame together, watch a movie together and we don't have to hate each other," Dobson says.