Controversy over a city sign ordinance dominated the Student Association executive candidate’s meeting Monday night.

SA Senator Gary Stittgen, who recently resigned from the senate, informed SA Election Commissioner Rob Perry of the ordinance Monday.

The ordinance requires that a $100 refundable deposit be made with the city before any signs are erected within city limits, Stittgen said. After the election, candidates have 10 days to remove their signs or the city will remove the signs and candidates will lose the deposit, Stittgen said.

Stittgen said he is aware of the ordinance because he has previously worked on county campaigns.

Presidential candidate Huda Scheidelman said she checked with the city clerk late last week and was told there was no such ordinance. She said she was told she only needed permission from property owners to post signs. When she called the DeKalb clerk’s office Monday, she was told the ordinance did exist, she said.

Stittgen told the candidates and several members of the election commission that he wanted to file a formal complaint against all candidates who had not complied with the ordinance Monday.

Stittgen said he would take the matter to the SA Supreme Court if the elections commission did not take action on his complaint.

When Stittgen checked with the city clerk Monday at noon, only Phill Buoscio, senate speaker and presidential candidate, had paid the deposit, he said.

Stittgen was Buoscio’s campaign manager before he resigned from the senate and Buoscio’s campaign last week. After resigning, he said he would no longer campaign actively for Buoscio and would limit his participation in the election to voting.

Stittgen’s senate resignation is not final until the senate votes to approve it.

Perry did not wish to make any further comments regarding the ordinance until he met with his commission Monday night. He did, however, tell candidates to “save a headache and pay the $100.”

Perry said the $100 deposit will not be included in the $500 limit set on executive candidates. The limit includes all expenditures on campaign paraphernalia.

Candidates submitting petitions by the Monday 4:30 p.m. deadline included Phill Buoscio and Huda Scheidelman for president; Kara Bradford, Steve Coloia and Sean Zenner for vice president and Bruce Williams for treasurer. These names are listed alphabetically and in no way reflect ballot order.