Letter: Concern over logo comes at late date

I am responding to Douglas County Commissioner Bernie Curtis' comments in the Nevada Appeal regarding the use of his election logo "...without my permission, whatsoever".

I do send my sincere regards to Mr. Curtis on this issue. I fully understand his frustration over the printer's gaffe. The issue affects me equally. Though, I doubt few people outside of politics would associate a voter's checkmark logo as being an endorsement of another candidate.

At the time of development, I was under the impression that the printer used this logo from a library of available clip art at their disposal.

The voter checkmark issue was brought to my attention by Mr. Curtis approximately two weeks ago. I checked back with the printer and they were unaware that Mr. Curtis had developed that logo. There was no malicious intent by the printer or myself to cause harm to Commissioner Curtis.

It is important to know that Mr. Curtis left out a few points that I think will provide balance. I find it interesting that our commissioner chose to bring this issue to the public attention in the closing weeks of an election. The printing company he mentioned designed my materials last May. Commissioner Curtis and I have been at a number of Candidate Night functions in Douglas County dating back to early last summer.

The voter checkmark logo was on the materials and were in plain sight along with materials from other candidates for office. Mr. Curtis said nothing to me at a half-dozen candidates forums around the Valley where these materials were displayed.

Further, I assisted a nonpartisan candidate for the Douglas County school board frame his issues for his campaign material last summer. I recommended the printer on Johnson Lane used not only by myself but my Assembly opponent, Lynn Hettrick, as well as Bernie Curtis and others.

When I saw the finished product by the school board candidate, it also had the identical election checkmark logo and used a similar print style to my materials. But, the reality is no one ever trademarks campaign materials, not even at the presidential level, so it was a non-issue for me, at least.

When Commissioner Curtis called me a few weeks ago on the checkmark logo issue, I let him know about the school district candidate having the same logo as well. Mr. Curtis said he saw that but it was "alright as ... [that non-partisan candidate]... was a Republican."

To me at least, I think that pretty much explains the motivation of why Commissioner Curtis now finds it necessary to raise this issue in the press at this late date, rather than bringing it to my attention three months ago when a resolution was possible.

WILLIE EDWARDS

Democratic Candidate

Assembly District 39