A political statement has answered the public's right to determine the use of drought-exposed land on Hartwell Lake. Republican Don Bowen, who is seeking re-election in November to District 8 in the South Carolina House to represent Anderson and Oconee counties, said Wednesday that he saw no problem with the placement of 2 of his campaign signs that supporters reportedly placed on a small mound of exposed land near the S.C. 24 highway bridge. “I see them every day,” said Bowen of Anderson. “They are small signs. I don't see that they create any problem with safety issues.” Citing a response from the Hartwell Lake Project Office, Jeanne Hodge, public affairs spokeswoman for the Corps' Savannah District, said public cooperation would save Corps' resources needed to remove them.