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A campaign sign for County Commission candidate James Clifton was removed Wednesday evening after a Fayette County resident raised questions about whether it had been placed on private property without permission.
The resident, identified as Debra as she requested to remain anonymous, said she noticed the sign near New Hope South and initially believed it was on church property. After reviewing county records, she determined the parcel was owned by Talbot State Bank.
Why she looked into it
Debra said she first questioned the sign because of its proximity to New Hope Baptist Church.
“It was surprising to me to see what appeared to be two political signs on private property that appeared to be owned by New Hope Baptist,” she wrote in an email to The Citizen. “I was rather surprised to see that they had interjected themselves into a local political race, so I decided to verify myself that that land was in fact owned by the church before I gave them a call.”
She said her research led her to discover the parcel was a separate tract owned by Talbot State Bank through prior bankruptcy proceedings.
Property ownership check
Debra said she used the county’s public GIS mapping system to identify the property owner.
“All I did was put in New Hope Baptist,” she said. “I could see there was a carved-out parcel, and when I clicked on that, I saw that it belonged to Talbot State Bank.”
She said the location of the sign could give the impression it was placed on church property.
“Anybody that would drive by, it appears that it’s New Hope’s endorsement,” she said. “That’s an incorrect assumption, but that’s what most of the general public would assume because of the location.”
Bank response and nearby signage
Debra said she contacted a local branch of Talbot State Bank to ask whether permission had been granted for the Clifton sign.
According to Debra, a bank representative told her they were not aware of any authorization and later confirmed that no one at the bank had approved the placement.
Debra said a separate campaign sign for judicial candidate Jason Thompson was located nearby. She said the bank indicated that Thompson had requested and received permission, while no authorization was found for the Clifton sign.
State law on sign placement
Georgia law prohibits placing signs on private property without permission from the owner or authorized occupant. Under state code, such placement without permission may be treated as a violation and subject to removal.
Debra said her concern was based on her familiarity with election rules and property-related requirements.
“I know what the statute says, and I know what the rules are,” she said. “Adherence to the law applies to everyone, whether I like them as a candidate or don’t like them.”
Sign removed same day
Debra said she photographed the Clifton sign Wednesday morning after speaking with the bank. By 6 p.m. that evening, the sign had been removed.
Expectations for candidates
Clifton, who is running for County Commission, is a real estate attorney.
Debra said candidates—particularly those with legal and property expertise—should verify ownership before placing campaign materials.
“If anyone should be held to a higher standard, it should be an attorney,” she said. “I don’t see how anyone could claim that they were ignorant of the law.”
She added that the situation could create confusion for voters about who is endorsing a candidate.
“For any passerby, it would appear that it is a sign placed on property owned by New Hope Baptist Church,” she said. “Few people would take the time to verify it before jumping to that conclusion.”
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