I'm running for State Senate District 21 which includes most of Lakewood. Campaigns aren't eco-friendly considering the waste literature and signs produce. Literature at least provides information. Yard signs, on the other hand, generally are limited to just showing support.

I'm a tree-hugger and not ashamed to admit it. Being green is tied hand and foot to being a fiscal conservative. Why grow a water-sucking, mowing-required lawn when you can grow vegetables and a beneficial insect heaven in your front yard?

The yard signs were the same, I wanted an eco-friendly option and purpose.

As I looked outside the box, I considered buying every supporter a tree but the logistics of name ID, planting and the campaign budget didn't work with that. So, the burlap bag came about because it fit the criteria. It isn't a perfect plan, the signs will fade and weather, some are shorter than others because the frame for the signs is old unusable campaign signs we recycled but to me that's the beauty of it. I'm willing to trade this for less impact to our resources and planet.

The signs are painted with low VOC paints so they are much more earth friendly than traditional solvent based paint. You can reuse this campaign sign as a leaf bag, recycled can bag, store balls or garden bulbs, shelter seedlings, erosion control or in other ways. All we ask is that you wait on recycling the yard sign until November 5th.

Some slogans on the bags reflect beliefs more than name, maybe poor campaign tactic but the issues we can tackle together are most important.

An example is the Open Government Spending Act I want to see enacted. The Open Government Spending Act would require that every government from the State down to Special Districts publish their check register online. Citizens would be able to review how public money is spent and we'd encourage more competitive bidding which should save taxpayers money.

If you'd like to show your support or read the full press release, including pictures of our great volunteers who helped make the signs, just visit the website www.votenatalie.org and send us an email to request one of the signs.