By Philip Marcelo
Journal Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- In the city's West End, at least one candidate's campaign signs are generating buzz in the special election to fill the District 10 seat of late state Rep. Thomas Slater.

Slater's son, Scott, has close to 300 signs posted in the district, but not all of them are technically his.

Close to a third, by Slater's own estimate, are his father's old signs. Look closely and you'll see Tom's name in small print above the large red letters declaring "Slater for Representative." The first name has been covered by white tape.

A city employee who has never run for public office, the younger Slater says the use of his father's signs was strictly for financial reasons, and something his family fully supports.

"I don't have deep pockets like other people in the race," he says. "I don't think my father would object. My mother certainly doesn't."

Among seven Democrats competing in a primary scheduled for Oct. 6, Slater has $3,772.58 in his campaign account, according to his most recent campaign filing.

"I don't know what the big deal is," he said. "This is motivated by people that are trying to create an issue. It's a desperation thing."