By Kathy Hanrahan-Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – With the shirt controversy wrapping up, Ascension of Our Lord found itself in the center of another political event when signs for sheriff candidate Shannon Penn and assessor candidate Lester Millet III appeared on a fence near church property on Tuesday.

Residents of a neighboring house placed signs of support for Penn and Millet on a fence facing the church grounds.

According to Rev. Benjamin “Father Benny” Piovan the fence, which is not owned by the church, has no clear-cut owner because it was placed by land developers to divide the property lines. Piovan was left with no claim to the fence and no choice but to contact candidates and ask to have the signs removed.

After speaking on Tuesday afternoon with Piovan, Millet moved his sign early Wednesday morning.

“I like and respect Father Benny and feel he has done a good job at Ascension,” Millet said.

Penn was notified on Wednesday about the sign controversy. He was quick to make arrangements to have the signs moved out of the church’s direct view.

“Signs don’t vote, people do,” Penn said.