It happens every election period and every time it’s a nuisance for both candidates and the community: stolen, removed, moved, and/or vandalized campaign signs.
Lake Cowichan town councillor Tim McGonigle, who is running for mayor this election, called it vitriolic.
“Everyone is a target,” he said, noting that all of the campaign signs between the information centre and the post office — regardless of who they were in support of — had either been removed or vandalized.
“We see this every campaign period unfortunately, and it has a financial impact on those seeking election,” McGonigle noted on Facebook. “I have funded my campaigns with only my funds in all elections, and at $10/campaign sign any losses or vandalism adds up. Please respect those who have chosen to put their names forward, whoever you do, or don’t support.”
Mayor Bob Day, who is running for re-election, said he has only had two signs knocked over by vandals but he has been very careful to place his signs far enough away from sidewalks and trails where they are easy targets.
“I paid for my signs personally and I understand how costly they are to replace,” Day said. “I think the message needs to get out that the act of damaging election signs is against the law.”
He agreed with McGonigle in terms of the overall intent of vandals.
“At the end of the day, I don’t believe this activity is aimed at any one candidate, so I don’t take it personally, but at the same time it is frustrating,” Day said.