Watauga Political Sign Flap Becomes Federal Case

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A Watauga man was arrested and jailed for violating the city's sign ordinance during the March Primary. Even though charges have been dropped and the ordinance changed, he isn't dropping the issue. Chris Howe is making a federal case out of it – literally!

Police arrested Howe at the Watauga Community Center March 2. "I was disappointed that they were willing to take it that far," he said.

Howe says he stood on principle and spent five hours in jail. "Because they were telling me I couldn't have a sign."

The assumption was made because 10 years ago, the city passed an ordinance classifying political signs as "temporary signs," banning them from any public property in the City of Watauga.

"It's a blatant violation of the first amendment," said Erin Leu, an attorney with the Liberty Institute. "The first amendment protects political speech."

According to Leu, the Watauga ordinance meant residents could have skull and crossbones stickers on their cars, but not bumper stickers supporting political candidates.

The Liberty Institute filed a federal civil lawsuit on Howe's behalf against the city in late October. A couple of weeks later, the City of Watauga amended their sign ordinance to include political signs and dropped all charges against Howe.

Now, the City of Watauga wants Howe to forget the incident ever happened. Fritz Quast is the attorney handling the case for the city. "Our position is there's nothing to fight about anymore. He wasn't damaged," claims Quast. "We clarified the ordinance. He can hold his political signs."

But Howe also hasn't forgotten why he was at the Watauga Community Center last March. He said he was exercising his right to take part in the political process. Howe said, "If we don't exercise our rights, we really don't have them to begin with."

Leu said once Howe was jailed he could no longer participate in that process.

The Liberty Institute is seeking unspecified damages in the suit.

Before setting court dates, the federal judge in the case wants both sides to meet to see if they can first agree on a settlement.