The Ward 8 D.C. Council campaign is playing out in the inboxes of several dozen reporters, editors, and D.C. government officials around town this afternoon.

Challenger Sandra “S.S.” Seegars blasted a complaint about yard signs for incumbent Marion Barry around by email to more than 60 people at 3:13 p.m., forwarding along a message she had gotten from someone in the ward. A spokesman for the Office of Campaign Finance, who had been copied on the first email, replied at 3:31 p.m. that the office had no jurisdiction over yard signs. At 4:36 p.m., Barry wrote in (using his D.C. government email address, which Seegars had copied initially) to respond to Seegars’ initial complaint.

Read the whole thing after the jump, in chronological order.

Seegars’ initial email:

From: sstrulyyours@aol.com

Subject: Re-Elect Barry Signs

Date: March 27, 2012 3:13:38 PM EDT

I am addressing this as an ANC Commissioner.

It has been brought to my attention that you are violating the person. Your campaign workers need to stop trespassing. I have seen them too in yards unauthorized. I am notifying the police and OCF. (And, the other candidates)

No Neighborhood Left Behind

S.S. Seegars for Ward 8

202-561-6616

Subj: Fwd: Re-Elect Barry Signs

To: sstrulyyours@aol.com

Sent: 3/27/2012 8:16:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time

Subj: Re-Elect Barry Signs

Ms. Seegars

I live on  Newcomb St SE.   Last night my neighbor called to ask me if there was a Re-Elect Barry sign in my yard because someone had put one in her yard.  Sure enough, there was one in my yard and no one asked either of us if we wanted one.

I looked further and saw that the signs were on every lawn on my block.  Is this legal because it certainly isn’t ethical.  He should be ashamed to try to give the appearance that he is supported throughout Ward 8 by the unauthorized placement of signs.

The community needs to be aware of this unethical activity because some of us are tired of being the poorest Ward in the city.

The email from the OCF official:

From: wesleyw.williams@dc.gov

Subject: RE: Re-Elect Barry Signs

Date: March 27, 2012 3:31:22 PM EDT

Ms. Seegars,

The Office of Campaign Finance has no jurisdiction over the placement of campaign signs.

Thank you,

Wesley Williams

Public Affairs Manager

Office of Campaign Finance

Barry’s email, which he sent out twice:

From: MBarry@DCCOUNCIL.US

Subject: RE: Re-Elect Barry Signs

Date: March 27, 2012 4:36:33 PM EDT

Good Afternoon,

It is clear that Sandra Seegars has nothing better to do than to take down “Elect Barry Signs” and get people to complain about Barry signs in their yard.

We will gladly take down any sign in any yard that does not want a “Barry Sign” there… The Office of Campaign Finance has responded to Ms. Seegars that they have no jurisdiction over the placement of campaign signs.

Please have the residents of Ward 8 that do not want a Barry sign in their yard, please call the campaign office at (202) 803-2458, notify us with the name and address and we will gladly come and take the sign down.

Thank you and have a blessed day.

Photo by Matt Dunn