Clarkston News phones were ringing off the hook last week as candidates reported election signs missing in action.
Sandy Dubre, running for Independence Township treasurer, said she received a call at 10 a.m. last Thursday morning about a witness who saw someone steal her signs.
‘These are people who gave me permission to have my signs on their property,? she said.
Dubre decided to file a police report.
The witness, Sharon King, told police she saw a white female with dark hair remove a Dubre sign and place it in the vehicle. However, she was unable to positively identify the driver or passenger for police.
Dubre who drove the neighborhood of Timber Ridge Trail where the incident happened, said her signs were gone, a rival candidate’s signs in their place.
‘I think people are being very vicious and they’re just looking for any possible way to bring themselves ahead and I don’t appreciate it being at my expense,? she said.
‘Those signs cost me money and now that I have a witness that someone took them, maybe I’ll get my money back for my signs. I just want to be treasurer, that’s all and have it be fair.?
Mark Petterson, candidate for Independence Township trustee, said he had at least 40 signs stolen over the weekend.
‘They didn’t just knock them down, they took them,? he said. ‘I would like to think that not any of the competition is involved in it. I think it’s more residents that are being stupid.?
Petterson said he hung a couple of ‘game cameras,? usually used in deer hunting, in hopes of catching any perpetrators.
‘It’s sad that this is what it’s come down to in our politics,? he said. “Now they (candidates) have to hang cameras on our signs so they don’t get stolen.?
Kathy Paul, Springfield Township clerk candidate, said someone took her signs out of the frames and replaced them upsidedown, as well as took campaign literature.
“It’s been really strange,” Paul said.
Sandy Miller, elections administrator for Independence Township, said she received about five calls concerning sign trouble.
‘That’s kind of desperate and petty, it’s hard to point fingers at other people, the candidate themselves and whoever’s working for the candidate. They really get overzealous and they don’t realize how bad it looks for their candidate that they’re working for,” she said.
“We’ve got to go through this again in November, so hopefully all those signs will surface somewhere, so candidates don’t have to buy them again.”