A Ventura County man has generated controversy by erecting a large neon sign attacking GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Neighbors are complaining about the sign, and local zoning officials are also raising concerns.

Steven Showers, 59, a technical writer, erected a 14-foot neon sign in the front yard of his Newbury Park home that condemns Romney as a "racist" who will doom the GOP itself. "Save the GOP,'' the sign reads. "Romney's Racist Heart Dotcom."

Since he plugged in the sign Thursday morning, he's gotten an earful from neighbors upset about its size and political message. On Friday, a Ventura County code inspector dropped by and left a notice that the monument was a violation of zoning laws.

Showers, though, seems determined to keep his neon-bright opposition to Romney up at least through next week, as Republicans move toward nominating Romney in Tampa, Fla.