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Political Sign Vandalism Continues
10/23/08 - 05:25 PM

WMBB News Department

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Theft and vandalism to political signs continues as November 4th draws near.

Bay County Republican Headquarters Volunteer Sue Byrum helps provide others with replacement signs, but has also had her own sign stolen. “I can understand people being upset when their signs are stolen because we were definitely very upset when ours was.”

Many Bay County residents have experienced having a sign stolen or vandalized, and a few have even come face to face with the culprit.

“My sign’s been stolen about five times,” Democratic Headquarters Chairman Alvin Peters recalls, “And one night I managed to wrestle it out of the hands of some youngsters who actually pulled up and came in the yard and stole it.”

Both the Republican and Democratic headquarters say they are handing out signs every day to people who have had theirs taken. It doesn’t cost the public, but it is costing the parties.

Another problem is that residents are realizing that having their sign stolen means the thief wasn’t afraid to come in their yard, sometimes right up to the house to take the sign, and as a result are not feeling safe. Many people are taking the signs in at night and putting them out again in the morning, but others won’t display them at all because they are worried it might draw unwanted trespassers on their property.

Representatives from both parties agree this should not be a part of the election process.

“It’s a big deal to us because it’s our free speech that’s being violated,” Bynum says. “So I would wish that it would end.”

“It’s unsettling really,” Peters agrees. “And it shouldn’t be a part of the political dialogue in this county or in this country.”

Several arrests have been made, but both parties say they understand that the police can only do so much about the situation. They suggest instead watching out for yourself and your neighbors.