5 hours Ago By Rebecca Raney [email protected]
W hile Blount County voters turned out to the polls for the first day of early voting Wednesday Blount County Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue DuBois took yet another report about missing and vandalized campaign signs. “The reports seem to have escalated with the approach of the general election,” said DuBois. “Most folks report them being stolen, but some have reported their signs being vandalized, or vandalized and later stolen.
” According to DuBois at the height of the reporting, BCDP was receiving three to four reports within an hour’s time. Although primarily targeting signs on private property, DuBois said she’s received a few reports of targeted attacks against signs purchased and placed by candidates and their parties. “It’s very frustrating because there’s just no reason for it,” she said.
“Let’s call it what it is; it’s theft, it’s vandalism, in some cases it’s trespass, and it’s all illegal. The Blount County Democratic Party condemns all acts of theft and vandalism of campaign signs.” It’s not just the democratic party.
Blount County GOP Chair Jim Bradley confirmed they’ve seen a spike in campaign sign theft, particularly around polling locations. “We’ve had reports of stolen signs at the Pellissippi campus, Samuel Everett School of Innovation, Blount County Public Library and along McArthur Road,” said Bradly. He noted that most of the signs reported stolen were those campaigning for Donald Trump and JD Vance, and that none of the reports he knew of had mentioned vandalism, only theft.
Although messing with campaign signs can seem like an innocent prank, Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond confirmed the acts can carry the legal consequences of a Class A misdemeanor, including a maximum punishment of 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine up to $2500. “I don’t think there’s a criminal law specific to campaign signs being taken or vandalized, but it could be considered a theft or vandalism,” said Desmond. Although he noted that he hadn’t heard of any prosecutions of individuals tampering with campaign signage in Blount County, he also didn’t rule out the possibility of such prosecution occurring.
“I know of individuals who have been warned that they would be charged if they did it again,” said Desmond. “And depending on the circumstances, we certainly might (prosecute], particularly if the person had done it multiple times or in a particularly egregious manner.” As of Oct.
15, both Maryville Police Department and Blount County Sheriff’s Office had received official reports regarding campaign sign vandalism and theft. “I can’t say if there’s been an uptick,” wrote BCSO spokesperson Marian O’Briant in an email. “We did take a complaint of a large campaign sign in a field on private property that was vandalized and stolen the next day.
No one has been charged, but possible charges could include vandalism, theft of property and trespassing.” MPD Chief Tony Crisp said that although the department hasn’t taken any official reports, he had received a complaint from a candidate running for a nonpartisan office reporting several of their own signs stolen. An Alcoa Police Department representative confirmed they have not yet received any official reports of vandalism, theft or trespass in connection with campaign signage.
Outside legal concerns, DuBois said, vandalism and theft of campaign materials can cost candidates and private citizens valuable time, money and expression. “On average, the smaller signs run about $5 to $10, each, and the larger signs between $75 to $100,” said DuBois. “It adds up.
Even if it didn’t, though, it’s a violation of the First Amendment to intimidate and suppress free speech like this.” She recommends that anyone experiencing campaign sign vandalism or theft report it to their local party officials and law enforcement, and put up another sign. “We should all be able to freely express our views, especially in an election cycle,” said DuBois.
“Put up another sign if it happens. If you’ve got trail cameras or other motion sensors, you can point them in the area, too.” Bradley said the GOP would be reporting all allegations to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
“I’m not in a position to make a statement, but I can say this; signs that are put out there should stay there,” he said..
