The American Civil Liberties Union is attempting to eliminate that advantage by forcing the city to do away with its political sign ordinance, which allows candidates who faced a primary election to put up campaign signs 30 days prior to the June 22 primary.

While those signs have been permitted to remain up, other candidates - such as Democratic Party candidate Scott Matheson Jr. - have been prohibited from putting up signs until 30 days prior to the general election.

With 48 days to go, candidates who didn't face a primary are prohibited from putting up signs in Draper for another 18 days.

"If you're involved in a primary, you get four months of extra advertisement," said Brian Barnard, a civil rights attorney.

Draper city officials declined to comment on the lawsuit until they receive a copy.

The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, attacks the ordinance on two grounds: It allegedly violates First Amendment rights of free speech and equal protection laws.

The plaintiffs are Ken Larsen, the People's Choice party candidate for governor, and Draper residents Heather Rice and Robert Latham Jr.

Although the Utah chapter of the ACLU found other cities with similar ordinances, Draper was sued because it was "most egregious," said Margaret Plane, a staff attorney.

Part of the ordinance requires signs to be removed within five days after Election Day.

If the signs remain up, the city may remove the signs and charge candidates at least $2.50 per sign.

Although the lawsuit seeks a restraining order, the ACLU wants the city to voluntarily remove the ordinance from its books and not enforce it in the meantime.