Vandals struck two local campaign headquarters in recent days.
A press release from Blair Herbert, who is running for the Liberal Party in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford in next month’s federal election, said a large campaign sign in front of the headquarters was torn down and damaged sometime between 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night and the next morning.
Jules Sherred, campaign manager for the NDP’s Alistair McGregor, reported that several attempts to steal a sandwich board in front of the headquarters were made last week, and campaign workers found feces smeared on one of the doors at the office when they were opening up one day last week.
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“We can’t say that we were targeted, but our door was the only one out of many in the area that had feces smeared on it,” he said.
The campaign offices of the other two local contenders who have announced they are running in Cowichan-Malahat-Langford — the Greens’ Lydia Hwitsum and the Conservatives’ Alana Delong — reported no recent vandalism.
Blair said the torn-down sign can likely be re-installed and the damage will be a reminder to those passing by of the vandalism.
To say the vandalism is disappointing is an understatement, he said, considering the election was only called four days earlier than the incident and the grand opening of his campaign office was only two days before.
“I believe that when individuals cannot attack your policies, they turn to attacking you or your property personally, of which this is an example,” Herbert said.
“I suppose it is an attempt to muzzle or intimidate. And, whether the attack came from the left or the right, I don’t know why it is necessary. Instead, let’s have a healthy debate on the issues in this election and let informed voters decide the outcome.”
North Island-Powell River NDP candidate Rachel Blaney’s Comox office had also been vandalized with swastikas and tagging sometime overnight Friday.
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Campaign organizer Kristy Bell said the windows of Blaney’s office was covered with red and black spray paint with various words, symbols and Blaney’s name on her signs covered with paint.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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