Hitchen chose not to add election signs to visual pollution

By Brian Konrad

Jay Hitchen chose digital signs only

Council candidate opts not to place campaign signs on lawns or roadways

Oct 15, 2021 | 11:50 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The signs of next Monday’s civic election are everywhere, and can be seen along nearly every available space on major roads in Medicine Hat.

But one candidate for city council has made a conscious choice not to put out signs.

Jay Hitchen said he struggled with the decision, but opted to go digital instead because he feels it’s greener, weather- and graffiti-proof, and won’t mark up the landscape.

“It’s become such a joke,” says Hitchen.

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“There’s even people putting up signs just because they want to put up signs. So I was just struggling with a way to stand out, to do something that maybe not every candidate was doing so I decided to put my signs out on the internet,” adds Hitchen.

He says it will also make clean-up easier on the morning after the vote.

Hitchen says campaigning during a pandemic is unique, and he also opted not to knock on people’s doors because he didn’t think they would want their personal space to be invaded.

So far, Hitchen says no one has asked him “where’s your sign?” and time will tell if his decision was correct or if it was the biggest mistake he’s ever made.