Controversial Sign Garnering State Attention

A posting outside the County Commisioner's Office is garnering state-wide attention, because of it's politicaly -- and possibly racially -- charged message, and also because of who posted it.

We first brought you this story Friday, after Lubbock County Judge Tom Head posted the sign on a bulletin board at the Courthouse. Local leaders took the sign down that afternoon, but it's strong message is still ringing in many folks ears.

You'll recall the sign from Friday, on it -- a note saying there's a quote "new fashion rage shown in police mug shots."

Well, it certainly caused quite a stir, many folks saying it's racist and inappropriate for a public figure like a judge, to post something like that, in a supposed neutral place like a courthouse.

Judge Head told us Friday it was only meant for political discussion.

The bulletin board has since been wiped clean, with a new disclaimer, saying things posted there did not reflect the city's views. But many folks around town are still talking about where a public official's opinion ends, and his job begins.

"Obviously he's a conservative Republican judge, you know, with his own opinions and all, but he shouldn't try to push his own political opinions from the bench anymore than, you know, a liberal or a more Democratic judge should do."

Jarissa Jowers, votes Republican: "I think everybody's entitled to their own opinion, and if it's like, you know, saying something negative about them, maybe he went too far, but he has his right to his own opinion and to make that known."

Soheil Daftarain: "Fair? Well, that's not for me to decide. But low, and crass, and ugly? Yeah."

County Commissioner Bill McCay: "It was a distraction that we don't need right now. There were a number of opinions, personal opinions on some issues that many folks would agree with and some folks would disagree with, but that's not relevant. What is relevant is that it doesn't belong in the courthouse."

Commissioner McCay says he did talk with Judge Head, Mccay says they both agree on the decision to remove the sign, and Judge Head was understanding through it all.