Local News in Brief : Politicking Case Dropped

A misdemeanor charge against political activist Paul Herriott was dismissed this week by the City of Hermosa Beach, which had charged the longtime resident with violating a city ordinance that prohibits putting political signs on public property.

Herriott contends that the signs and balloons urging the election of Roger Creighton to the City Council were on private property--his car, which was parked on Pier Avenue on Election Day last November. Creighton was elected to the City Council.

Police Officer Spike Kelly said he cited Herriott because the activist’s car, which had political signs on and leaning against it, was on public property.

Earlier that morning, Kelly said he had told Parker to remove his car and political signs from city-owned vacant land on Pacific Coast Highway, but only gave the activist a warning the first time.

City Prosecutor John Barry said he believes the citation was just, but dismissed it because he did not want to waste the city’s money on a trial to prosecute a charge that “wasn’t a big deal.”

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Carol Sobel, who represented Herriott, said the city had no case against Herriott and violated his constitutional right of freedom of speech.