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Building trades' signs say 'Granholm'

Date Posted: October 13 2006

MARQUETTE - At some bees, old ladies make quilts.

At others, middle-aged men get together and assemble political signs. Such was the case at a "work-bee" sponsored last month by the Marquette County Democratic Party, which brought together 16 tradesman to the Carpenters Apprenticeship School, who put together 50 four-by-eight-foot signs for placement along roadsides in Marquette, Delta and Alger counties.

The recipient of that sweat equity was Gov. Jennifer Granholm, whose name adorned all the signs.

"We're always willing to go to do our part for pro-worker candidates like Governor Granholm," said Marquette County Democratic Party Chairman Jack LaSalle, who again organized the effort after retiring this year as a business representative with the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. "We have quite a system set up to do this kind of thing every election cycle to support candidates who support us."

The signs were printed at a union print shop in Detroit, Sawicki and Sons, and shipped north. The volunteers mount the signs on the same wooden frames that have been used in every election cycle for the last eight years. The signs are glued to a 5/8-inch exterior grade plywood backing. Duct tape around the edges keeps rainwater out and the plywood and signs cohesive.

A database of willing home and business owners who live along major thoroughfares is again contacted and asked if they are willing to host a sign. After the signs are constructed, another team of construction workers plants them in the ground, making sure that Miss Dig is consulted, if necessary, and that local ordinances for signs are observed.

Shortly after Election Day, Nov. 7, volunteers will be out again, collecting the signs and storing them for use in another year or two.

"If we don't pick the signs up soon after the election, they're going to be fair game for somebody to use in a hunting blind," LaSalle said. "So we move pretty quick."

VOLUNTEERS from the trades in Marquette assemble signs on behalf of Gov. Jennifer Granholm. If a sign from a previous campaign has a good bond to the plywood backing, the new sign can be glued atop the old sign. (Photo by Jack LaSalle)