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'Tis the season for sign stealing
By JOE LoTEMPLIO
Staff Writer
It seems that the New England Patriots are not the only ones stealing signs these days.
As happens every campaign season, candidates are screaming foul, accusing people of stealing their precious campaign lawn signs.
After covering local politics for 22 years, I’ve heard all of the complaints.
“Two dozen of my signs were taken in one night. I could see one or two, but not that many. That means someone was out to get me.”
“My signs were all stolen or damaged, and my opponent’s were not touched.”
“I saw someone that looked like my opponent touching one of my signs.”
Those are just a few of the regurgitated complaints we hear every year.
Fact is, campaign signs disappear or get damaged every year for a variety of reasons.
Yes, some of them fall victim to dishonest candidates and some of their supporters, but most of them, I dare say, are trashed by people who just hate campaign lawn signs, period.
Others think they might make a nice souvenir until they wake up sober.
Some are just trashed for the heck of it.
Candidates always come to me convinced they have a worthy news story of how their signs were specifically targeted.
This year is no different.
During the primary season, Mike Kelly and Bill Provost say they chased Andy Brockway all the way to Beekmantown after they allegedly saw Brockway take one of Kelly’s signs in Ward 2.
Brockway, of course, denied it, setting up the famous he-said, he-said scenario.
James Calnon complained that 16 of his signs were stolen in one night in Ward 4.
I sympathize Mr. Calnon, but 16 is a pittance compared with some stories I’ve heard in years past.
Some candidates claim they’ve had as many as 250 signs stolen in one campaign season.
The mother of Steven Williams, a candidate in Ward 2, complained that her son’s signs were being desecrated.
No doubt these incidents are disturbing to candidates, and that is understandable, considering all the money and time they put into campaigning.
Stealing or destroying campaign signs is not right, and people should show more respect and decent behavior, even if they are drunk.
But the bottom line seems to be that losing signs or having them destroyed appears to be one of the prices to pay for participating in our political system.
As Winston Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government there is. But it’s the best one we’ve come up with so far.”
Comments
250 signs? That is ridiculous....not that they were stolen, but that someone put that many out. I hate campaign signs....I think they are obnoxious and akin to litter. I for one think twice about voting for a candidate who feels the need to have a sign every two feet. There must be a better way to campaign.
Posted by: me | October 24, 2007 3:17 AM
Planting signs in people's lawns seems to be the primary means for advertising anything in the area - not just a means for campaigning. The signs are polluting our beautiful North Country. Drive up to the intersection of Rt. 9 and Spellman Rd. You're greated by an unbelievable number of these signs. Surely we aren't so unthinking that we must rely on these as a way to form our opinions. Get them out!
Posted by: Katherine | October 27, 2007 7:45 AM
I agree. Seeing a campaign sign every two feet does nothing but annoy me. There really is no need for that...it is not as if we are going 90 MPH. We're going 30. We can see one sign clearly enough. I think the signs make the city look trashy. But then again, just because I feel this way doesn't mean I would take them down or damage them. A lot of the damage probably has to do with the drunken people with no regard for other peoples property.
Posted by: Nicole | October 29, 2007 7:43 AM
First, let's designate a "sign area" in each end of the city ( 4 places), so everyone entering or leaving can see them. Second, and more importantly (to me any who) is to designate a TIME FRAME for the signs to be put up and taken down. They (signs) go up earlier every year and are usually still flapping in the wind (or whats' left of them) long, long, long after the elections. A nice little fine for either infraction should help. (Anyone running should be aware of who is part of their team, so hold them liable!!)
Posted by: JT | November 3, 2007 8:34 AM
Campaign signs are important because, for new candidates, it's really the only way to cost-effectively build name recognition in a short period of time. And, I like it when I see signs in people's lawns because that shows that those people chose to be involved in the political process by publically supporting this or that candidate.
I like the idea of designated sign areas. I also like the idea of some sort of time limit being set for signs to be taken down. How about this - the loser has to take down the winner's signs, along with their own?
Posted by: Card Buddy | November 7, 2007 8:35 AM