VIRGINIA BEACH — In a heated election season, political yard signs can, at times, pit neighbors against neighbors.
Virginia Beach leads the state in the level of irritation sparked by neighborhood yard signs, according to a recent survey by digital lifestyle media outlet Geek Nexus.
Brigadoon neighborhood resident Lily Anderson wants to counter the political divisiveness swirling around the election landscape with a different kind of lawn sign. She came up with the wording and created the design for a red, white and blue double-sided board on metal stakes.
It features a simple message: “Whoever wins, we’ll still be neighbors.”
Anderson, 44, is a English teacher who worked overseas and moved back home last year to help her mother. She became frustrated with the vitriol permeating the presidential election and wanted to remind people about what really matters.
“Politics are important, but they are not the most important thing,” she said.
Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, where Anderson lives, is a swing district that could help determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives. A Democrat held the district for two terms until Republican Jen Kiggans’ victory in 2022. Now she faces a challenge from Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal. Campaigns have spent millions of dollars on advertising in the race, and political signs for both candidates are prominently displayed across Virginia Beach properties.