Signed up: Why some lawns display multiple party signs
When you see a house with campaign signs from more than one party, you've got to look twice and wonder about what's happening inside.
Identity crisis? Divided loyalties? Fence-sitting?
Along Victoria Avenue in the riding of Regina-Lewvan, Andrea Marcia and Darcy Dreaver have erected signs showing support for the Conservative candidate and the NDP candidate.
The couple has been together for three years and care deeply for one another — but they disagree strongly when it comes to politics.
The federal election led to a one-lawn sign war.
"I came home one day, and there's a Conservative sign on my front lawn. I thought, 'Dirty bugger,' " Marcia said. "So I thought, 'You know what: you started it.' [And] I went and got a sign. A small sign."
The small NDP sign was only the beginning. It was soon replaced by a towering sign — a move that set Dreaver to ponder his options.
"She one-upped me," Dreaver said. "So I've been waiting for a new bigger sign. I've been tossing around the idea of building my own."
While Dreaver said he is impressed by Conservative leader Stephen Harper's track record on the economy and security, Marcia said she is drawn to the NDP's Tom Mulcair and his promise of a national daycare plan.
"We'll just agree to disagree," Marcia said.
"She did say something about me sleeping in the shed," Dreaver noted. "But it hasn't happened yet, so the sign stays."
In another part of Regina, another front lawn shows another set of opposing party signs.
Ken and Gaylene Hipfner have signs for the Liberal party and the NDP on their property and said they are united on one goal in the upcoming election.
"It's kind of a protest: anything but Harper. Anything but Tory," Gaylene said.
Ken added he has yet to decide which of the non-Conservative parties will get his vote.
"I'm still hopeful that I'll hear something that will really move me," he said. "That's what I'm waiting for."
Gaylene said she has decided and hopes to convince Ken do vote the same, so they don't split their support between the NDP and Liberals.
"She'll be lobbying me," Ken acknowledged.
Gail Tiefenbach, in the Regina-Qu'Appelle riding, has also requested signs from the Green party, the NDP and the Liberals to show her opposition to the Conservatives.
She said she is struggling when it comes to her vote.
"If I wanted to vote with my heart, I would vote Green — but I know they don't stand a chance," she said.
The absence of a Conservative sign among NDP and Liberal signs does not always mean a voter is anti-Harper.
In Regina-Lewvan, Rudy Small has simply been accommodating.
"The guy just asked if I can put a sign, and I said 'Go ahead,' " he explained.
