Although theft and vandalism to election signs sometimes occurs during election time, this year seems to be worse than ever in various part of Lincoln County, according to several observers and county officials of both parties.
“It’s happened to varying degrees but it’s worse this year,” said State Rep. David Trahan (R-Waldoboro). Trahan has been campaigning for the District 20 state senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Dana Dow (R-Waldoboro).
Both the county Democratic headquarters in Damariscotta and Republican headquarters in Wiscasset have reported signs missing from private residences and public roadways that cost as much as five dollar apiece.
“This is my fifth candidacy, and this is by far the worst,” Trahan said.
Trahan reported several of his signs being vandalized in New Harbor and Nobleboro. He said individuals have driven back and forth over his signs until they are demolished, and he has had to replace them several times.
“I would certainly discourage any of my supporters from doing that,” he said.
Trahan said everyone who has signs up now, Democrats and Republicans, should remember to remove them after the election is over, however.
One citizen, Stephen Wallace of Alna sent an email to the newspaper complaining about the theft of a sign he happened to witness from his property.
“Twenty minutes ago someone stopped his vehicle in front of our home (in the dark) and stole our Obama/Biden sign,” Wallace said. “I saw their lights, but we live too far from the road to be able to run out and identify the vehicle before the driver took off. We had other signs, but only the Obama/Biden sign was taken.”
Wallace called the act “childish vandalism” and considers the negative emotions expressed during this election as a possible reason for the incidents.
“A call to the Lincoln County Democratic headquarters on this brought out that this is happening throughout the area,” he said.
Meredith Batley, who was manning the Democratic center in Damariscotta said, “I think it’s people who are upset. There are maybe a total of 10 signs reported stolen per week, and part of the problem is that it costs five dollars per sign.”
Batley said even though the acts have occurred, she and the other Democratic volunteers are having a good time. “Despite that we are rocking,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s getting in the way of our efforts.”
Newcastle resident Bonnie Gerrard, spokesperson for the Lincoln County Democratic Party said her Obama sign was stolen from her property.
“The whole sign thing is really hard at this time,” she said. “A lot of people are making their own signs.”
Dawn Gilbert of Boothbay, Lincoln County GOP committee chair, said a man driving a truck with a Massachusetts license plate drove over signs at a private residence and destroyed them all, then started to drive off. The homeowner was heading in the opposite direction but witnessed the incident from his rear view mirror, turned around, and drove close enough to the truck to get the license number.
Gilbert said he called the Sheriff’s Office, and the man was stopped.
“It seems like the McCain signs are the ones going,” she said.
Wiscasset resident Sarah Pearce, who chairs the Wiscasset GOP town committee, reported that she has had signs stolen from her property at least three times and expressed frustration that she has had to replace them each time. She also said she has heard similar reports of GOP signs being taken in other parts of the county.
Waldoboro police reported only a few cases called in to them, and Damariscotta police said there were none they heard about. Wiscasset police and the Sheriff Todd Brackett could not be reached Tuesday about any reports they may have received besides the Boothbay incident.
