Christina Crumb has resorted to making her own lawn sign after the one she had supporting Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) candidate David Goodwin was stolen.
“For the first time in our life, put up a political sign, just to say that we’re going to vote liberal this time,” said Crumb, a Port Burwell, Ont. resident. “We’re doing a meet the candidate on the 15th, so I guess that’s why we were targeted.”
Campaign tensions are escalating in the riding of Elgin-St. Thomas- London South, and that was evident in the Lake Erie village this weekend.
Multiple election signs were stolen from private property.
“We put them in the ground about three-four in the afternoon, and by 10:00 p.m., both of them were gone,” said Tracy Farmer Payne, who had two signs stolen from her property directly across from the Lighthouse. “We started calling friends who had Liberal signs, and they were all gone except those that had cameras.”
CTV only counted two Goodwin signs left in the entire village.
One of them remained on Crumb’s property behind their shed.
“We had cameras on that one,” said Crumb. “The people that came to take these signs, they had to bring tools with them because we had these zip tied on to metal rebars, so this is not a teenager. This is someone with a mission to remove Liberal signs.”
All campaigns are funded by local donations, and those signs are not only expensive, but take time to re-order.
“It’s also disrespectful to all our volunteers who go out in the cold,” said Goodwin. “They go throughout this riding from east to west, north to south, putting up lawn signs and then to find out they’re stolen, it’s very disappointing.”
It’s not just Goodwin’s campaign who is suffering from this. In a statement to CTV news, Andrew Lawton’s team said they’ve had numerous instances of theft and damage.
“It’s volunteers who spend a great deal of time installing, replacing, and repairing signs so it’s regrettable that some people resort to vandalism and theft because of political disagreements,” said Lawton.
The thefts have been reported to Elgin County OPP, who are now investigating.
“We understand that people’s emotions are high with the election season, and politics have made us very divided these days,” said Const. Sarah Bram of the Elgin County OPP. “Unfortunately, as much as you may be tempted to do that, you could be charged with trespassing, you could face criminal charges, theft, mischief. It’s not worth it. Just leave it alone.”
Farmer-Payne said her support for Goodwin will not be silenced.
“I hope to get the signs back, and if not, I’m just going to cover my windows with his signs.”
Other candidates in the riding are Paul Pighin (NDP), Stephen Campbell (PPC) and Oriana Knox (Green).
