SIGNS OF THE TIMES

MAT-SU — The state’s sagging economy has been a key issue for candidates out stumping for votes. As voters wonder what can be done to bolster the economy, one group of local business owners is too busy to complain.

They’re the sign-makers.

Dozens of candidates and their campaign workers spend hours puttling up signs — you know the ones, those telltale political roadside banners and small yard placards. They proclaim the hopefuls of all parties as the choice for change and as voices for the people. Whatever the sings tell voters, they mean a big boost to the bottom lines for those making the signs.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m doing them everywhere,” said Bob Mills, owner of B Original Signs in Wasilla.

Mills has been making signs for local and state politicians for more than 30 years, including Sarah Palin, Linda Menard and Dorothy Page, when she was Wasilla mayor.

“I do the signs for the ones who usually win, it seems,” Mills quipped. “Why do candidates always make up signs? Well, it seems to work, you know?”

He’s also known for his modified 1966 Volkswagen van, which is shortened to the point of resembling an oversized clown car. The votemobile can be painted and decorated with messages for any candidate.

Now, it’s gussied up for Valdez Mayor Bert Cottle.

“We call it the Cottlemobile now,” Mills said. “It’s painted up for Bert right now, and I guess it made the front page of the Valdez paper.”

Whether it’s for large 8-foot by 4-foot roadside signs, smaller yard signs or buttons, candidates “come to me for all of the above,” he said. “I design their whole theme for them. We do a logo, then we try to design a button, then business cards. We set them up with a whole theme.”

Just how much extra work a political season creates at B Original Signs is hard to narrow down, Mills said. “But it is a boost, definitely. It helps.”

Like Mills, Ross Brewington has been making signs for Alaska politicians for about three decades. The owner of Rosco’s Signs in Anchorage estimates that of the 148 candidates in various Alaska races this year, about 75 percent do at least a little business with him.

Brewington wouldn’t say just how much revenue election signs bring in, but said it basically doubles his business.

“The political season is what we call gravy,” he said. “We have all of our other work, so the political season doubles our workload. We are busy, busy.”

Included in his clients are gubernatorial hopeful Bill Walker and Gov. Sean Parnell. Now through the general election in October, the workload will only get heavier, Brewington said.

“It’s soon going to hit nightmare stage,” he said. “They will spend whatever it takes for the seat of power. There are 148 Alaskan candidates, not including the federal (seats). That’s 148 potential customers.”

Because B Original Signs has such a long history in the Valley, Mills said he’s also bolstered by repeat business from incumbents running for re-election or on the recommendation of former candidates.

One drawback from election season is an assumption some potential customers make about his personal politics, Brewington said. He’s often accused of having a bias for one party or another.

“I’m not the messenger, I just make the signs,” he said. “As a business owner in the sign business, I’m independent. We do business for both parties.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.