As the saying goes, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Or is there?

In a comment on the Bainbridge Review’s website, James Olsen, Republican candidate for the 23rd Legislative District, complained Thursday about an article published about the orange flags on his political campaign signs that violate city rules on signs.

He wrote, “Slow week at the Lazy B Review…”

The catch?

The day before, Olsen e-mailed the Review staff as well as reporters at the North Kitsap Herald and Kitsap Sun to alert them that the city had told him to remove the flags from his signs.

At issue were four orange flags (dimensions 1 ½ inches by 2 inches) attached to three of his political signs; the city prohibits signs containing “moving parts or appearing to move, and signs which sparkle or twinkle in the sunlight.” The code also bans “streamers, pennants, ribbons, spinners or other similar devices.”

According to Meghan McKnight, the code enforcement officer for the city of Bainbridge Island, Olsen’s signs violated the ordinance and she asked him to remove the signs “as soon as possible” in an e-mail to Olsen Aug. 21.

McKnight said the orange flags could create a distraction to drivers and impede traffic safety.