Lewisville Leader > News
Lewisville: Campaign signs said stolen
BY DAN EAKIN, Staff Writer
With early voting under way, some city council candidates are claiming that someone is removing their campaign signs.
John Gorena, a candidate for Place 4, and Winston Edmondson Jr., a candidate for mayor, both believe that some supporters of their opponents are removing their signs from properties alongside city streets, including some from in front of homes of their supporters.
Gorena said about 35 of his signs disappeared either Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
“I am livid,” Gorena wrote in an e-mail to his supporters Thursday. ”I got a few calls that signs are missing from the yards of supporters. Going to replace them, I drove around town today and ALL my campaign signs on North Valley, North Old Orchard, North Garden Ridge, and some on Fox, are gone.”
He also told his supporters in an e-mail, “If you see anyone removing my signs, I would appreciate it if you take a picture of them with your cell phone and then let me know. I WILL PRESS CHARGES OF THEFT. So far, there are about 35 signs that I know were taken. That’s theft of way more than $100. Signs are not cheap! These idiots left the wires at many of these locations where people could fall on them if they tripped. That could kill someone. It was not the wind. Everyone else’s signs are still there. Just mine are missing.”
Edmondson said he does not believe that his campaign signs are missing because of kids being mischievous.
“My signs are usually gone within a day or two of putting them up,” Edmondson said in an e-mail to Gorena, which was released to the Lewisville Leader. “It wouldn't be so aggravating if I suspected it was the work of mischievous kids. Unfortunately, when I have a sign that's not too far from one of Dean Ueckert's signs, and only my sign is missing the next day, it makes me think we're not dealing with mischief here. There's not much I can do, other than double my efforts to speak with citizens face to face.”
To the insinuation that some of his supporters are picking up Edmondson’s signs, Ueckert responded, “I have full confidence that no one who is supporting me is taking up anybody’s signs. My supporters have more integrity than that. I hope that no supporters of any of the candidates are doing that.”
Ueckert said he has lost more than 100 signs which had been placed on city rights-of-way or in yards of supporters since he began putting up signs a few weeks ago. However, he said he would not accuse anybody of stealing his signs.
TJ Gilmore, also a candidate for Place 4, began putting up campaign signs last week.
“The biggest problem I'm having is that a large majority of my signs have been blown over,” Gilmore said. “I've lost a few signs simply due to the extremely strong wind and the softening ground.”
He added, “Political speech, which includes our signs, is the most protected form of speech given to us by the founders. If it's true (what Gorena is claiming), I'd ask that those responsible stop and please return Mr. Gorena's signs.”
Rochelle, also a candidate for Place 4, said, “I can’t say that I have any missing that I would say are due to theft that I know of. I certainly do not condone any type of illegal activity against any candidate at any time.”
Registered voters in the city of Lewisville may vote early between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today or between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Municipal Annex or at Lewisville City Hall.
The regular election is scheduled for next Saturday, May 9, and voters must vote in their own precincts, either at the Municipal Annex, at city hall or at Memorial Park Recreation Center.
John Gorena, a candidate for Place 4, and Winston Edmondson Jr., a candidate for mayor, both believe that some supporters of their opponents are removing their signs from properties alongside city streets, including some from in front of homes of their supporters.
Gorena said about 35 of his signs disappeared either Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
“I am livid,” Gorena wrote in an e-mail to his supporters Thursday. ”I got a few calls that signs are missing from the yards of supporters. Going to replace them, I drove around town today and ALL my campaign signs on North Valley, North Old Orchard, North Garden Ridge, and some on Fox, are gone.”
He also told his supporters in an e-mail, “If you see anyone removing my signs, I would appreciate it if you take a picture of them with your cell phone and then let me know. I WILL PRESS CHARGES OF THEFT. So far, there are about 35 signs that I know were taken. That’s theft of way more than $100. Signs are not cheap! These idiots left the wires at many of these locations where people could fall on them if they tripped. That could kill someone. It was not the wind. Everyone else’s signs are still there. Just mine are missing.”
Edmondson said he does not believe that his campaign signs are missing because of kids being mischievous.
“My signs are usually gone within a day or two of putting them up,” Edmondson said in an e-mail to Gorena, which was released to the Lewisville Leader. “It wouldn't be so aggravating if I suspected it was the work of mischievous kids. Unfortunately, when I have a sign that's not too far from one of Dean Ueckert's signs, and only my sign is missing the next day, it makes me think we're not dealing with mischief here. There's not much I can do, other than double my efforts to speak with citizens face to face.”
To the insinuation that some of his supporters are picking up Edmondson’s signs, Ueckert responded, “I have full confidence that no one who is supporting me is taking up anybody’s signs. My supporters have more integrity than that. I hope that no supporters of any of the candidates are doing that.”
Ueckert said he has lost more than 100 signs which had been placed on city rights-of-way or in yards of supporters since he began putting up signs a few weeks ago. However, he said he would not accuse anybody of stealing his signs.
TJ Gilmore, also a candidate for Place 4, began putting up campaign signs last week.
“The biggest problem I'm having is that a large majority of my signs have been blown over,” Gilmore said. “I've lost a few signs simply due to the extremely strong wind and the softening ground.”
He added, “Political speech, which includes our signs, is the most protected form of speech given to us by the founders. If it's true (what Gorena is claiming), I'd ask that those responsible stop and please return Mr. Gorena's signs.”
Rochelle, also a candidate for Place 4, said, “I can’t say that I have any missing that I would say are due to theft that I know of. I certainly do not condone any type of illegal activity against any candidate at any time.”
Registered voters in the city of Lewisville may vote early between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. today or between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Municipal Annex or at Lewisville City Hall.
The regular election is scheduled for next Saturday, May 9, and voters must vote in their own precincts, either at the Municipal Annex, at city hall or at Memorial Park Recreation Center.
Copyright © 2012 - Star Local News