I am sure that the Patch staff will now be investigating if he was in fact asked to resign his position, as this only tells half of the story. I will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the story.

Now it's time to do some real journalism. I would Suggest start digging for Court Records and maybe ask a few questions, as to why he took the City of Smyrna to court and accused them of falsely firing Alex Backery..... This is what I would call a poor excuse of journalism....

As I posted on a previous story:
"Regarding Mr. Backry, as I've stated before, I am his neighbor. I do believe he did resign from the City. However, he stated to me and my husband on several occasions that he very upset as he was forced to resign. As stated above in Alexander Supertramp's post earlier in this thread, Wade Lnenicka's website said that Mr. Backry was suing the city for "Illegal Firing", which makes sense with what Mr. Backry personally told me & my husband. Here is the link to the October, 2007 Newsletter posted on Wade Lnenicka's website mentioning the resignation and suit for "Illegal Firing". http://www.wadeforsmyrna.com/NL-10-2007.html "

He did voluntarily resign from his position at the City of Smyrna. The City gave him a choice and he chose to resign, then he took the City to Court over it as an "Illegal Firing". I'm sure if The Patch does a little research, they will learn the full story.

I knew that I would never vote for Alex Backry when I saw how he conducted himself at a city council meeting a few weeks ago. The way he grumbled and carried on throughout the meeting was "rude, crude and socially unacceptable"...and completely beneath someone who wants to run for elective office. Then when I heard him speak and read his "Meet the Candidates" article, my decision was solidified.

That being said, he is running for office, so if there is any truth to his assertion that his campaign signs are disappearing, I wanted to say a word on his behalf. I don't know if this will do any good, but I will make an open call to anyone who may have removed them (or know someone who removed them) to put them back or return them. This, of course, makes the assumption that the signs were properly placed and not in violation of any ordinances. As someone who has walked many hours placing signs for candidates I've supported in the past, only to watch them disappear at the hands of rivals and vandals, this is an issue that hits close to home for me.

I saw one sign for Mr. Backery on the property belonging to King Springs Baptist Church on King Springs Road. Unless Mr. Bakery had permission from the church, the sign was illegally placed and was most likely removed by the grounds keepers. Echo the comments from Smyrna Optimist, I have seen political signs on the right of way as well, and they will be removed.

With regard to the signs, I have a question that maybe you guys know the answer to. In that thread about the firetruck stuff, someone quoted a law that campaign signs can't be on the right of way. So if they aren't on the right of way, doesn't that mean they have to be on someone's personal property? And if that is true, then doesn't the sign owner have to ask the property owner to allow the sign? I heard Alex on the public comment a few weeks ago saying something about leaving his signs alone and that it was illegal to take them down. But what I don't see is how if a sign is in my yard that I own, that I could not remove or confiscate it if I saw fit.

What exactly is the "right of way?"

From what I understand if you put a campaign sign on private property you need the owner's permission, I would think that if the owner didn't give permission then they can take it down. You can't have signs on public property. I also think signs have to be 10 ft. from the road. That 10 ft. is the city's right of way. Also removing signs is a felony.

GA Political Sign Laws: Campaign signs aren't allowed on the state's right of way. GA defines their right of way abstractly: it's the land over which state highways, railroads, power lines or other GDOT property is built and maintainted. GA law stipulates that the Dept. is required to maintain a safe roadway for the traveling public, which includes the immediate removal of any obstruction or hazard that may pose a threat to the traveling public,Any sign along GA's state routes and interstates must meet safety standards and be permitted by GDOT to be in our right of way. Typically we find signs that advertise yard sales, real estate for sale and/or political candidates on Dept. land adjacent to our roads. None of those types of signs are allowed and will be removed by our personnel. Not only will the GDOT remove the signs but they destroy the signs that they remove. There isn't an opportunity for the campaign to call the Dept. and retrieve the signs. Each violation of GA's yard sign regulations is a misdemeanor offense. Typically, right of way violations do not amount to just one lone sign along the side of a highway but are potentially hundreds of signs along the state right of way. This means that the campaign could face hundreds of misdemeanor charges.

This town needs to lighten up! Gezzz!!!
The election will be over in less than a month!! All the signs will be a distant memory!! Who cares, 10 feet, 15 feet,... whatever!
I'm just thankful to live in a free republic ,(if we can keep it), where any tom, dick or harry, can partake in the political process, choose to run for office & try to make a difference!
Smyrna folks need to be paying more attention to how our tax money is spent, the lack of transparency & the reason so many empty storefronts arond this place, than whether a sign is in violation of offending the grass in the right of way!
I guess its this same 'uptight' attitude that has blocked Ebony & Ivory from putting up a few tables w/ umbrellas outside of their bbq joint! A few nice tables & planters would have looked nice & inviting,... the city said,..NO, NO, NO!!!