An Allegheny County judge on Tuesday afternoon ordered that signs outside of polling places in the state 44th legislative district targeting a Democratic candidate be removed, finding that they contain false information.
“I’m going to order that the sign be removed or modified,” said Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay. “You can leave a sign up that’s accurate and true.”
The 44th district includes a number of Pittsburgh’s western suburbs, including Sewickley and surrounding communities Moon Township and North Fayette Township.
McVay gave the party that created the sign, Driving Education, Science & Knowledge Political Action Committee, until 3:30 p.m. to correct it. However, when that didn’t occur, he ordered the Allegheny County sheriff’s deputies to remove them.
No one from the PAC appeared at the hearing on Tuesday. Instead, the signs were challenged by the Democratic Party.
Jonathan Sion, representing Pennsylvania Democrats, told the court that the signs targeting challenger Hadley Haas were “demonstrably false.”
Haas is running for state representative against incumbent Republican Rep. Valerie Gaydos.
Haas said Tuesday afternoon her finance reports were timely filed, and she was frustrated she had to spend much of Election Day dealing with the signs.
“It’s disappointing to see my reputation maligned in this way to try to win the election,” she said Tuesday.
The signs, designed to look like a public notice, read: “PA 44th Legislative District.”
And then have the words “PUBLIC NOTICE” in all capital letters, followed by “Failure to file.”
“Nov. 4, 2024, Source: Pennsylvania Department of State.”
“Description: Democrat Hadley Haas has failed to file the required public finance report which tells citizens who is funding her campaign. Breaking campaign finance laws is a serious matter. Reject Haas and her out of state dark money fueled campaign.”
But Sion told Common Pleas Judge John T. McVay that Haas’ name does not appear on the Pennsylvania Department of State “failed to file” list.
Instead, Sion presented a mail receipt showing that Haas sent her reports as of Oct. 25.
The signs, he said, have the potential to prejudice Haas and mislead voters.
“The format of these signs portray themselves as a public notice,” Sion said.
But Russell Giancola, arguing for the Republican Party, said that as of Nov. 1, the signs were accurate. The reports had not been included in Haas’ filings as of that date.
“It is not completely false,” he said. “As of Nov. 1, Hadley Haas had not filed the committee report.”
The bottom of the ad reflects “failed to file list” as of Nov. 1, 2024, Giancola said.
He also noted that the signs were appropriately placed outside the polling locations and listed who paid for them, as required.
“There’s nothing misleading about that,” Giancola said. “This is located outside in the permissible area, and there’s nothing to suggest otherwise.”
Giancola also argued the PAC that created the fliers ought to have a chance to argue its position before the judge made his decision.
Haas said the money she raised for her campaign came from dozens of events, hundreds of phone calls and a year of hard work.
“There is no dark money,” she said. “We have nothing to hide.”
The order McVay signed requires that the signs be modified by 3:30 p.m. If not, they were to be removed from the following schools: McCormick Elementary; Quaker Valley Middle; Moon Area High; Edgeworth Elementary and Osborne Elementary, as well as Leetsdale Borough Building; Findlay Township Activity Center; Findlay Township Municipal Building; West Ridge Church and Potomac Air Lodge.