The Kane GOP recently posted an article on their website and accused the Democrats of stealing their signs. Stated plainly, the Kane County Democrats have never made it our policy to steal signs, condemn the theft of signs, and will always strive for fairly conducted elections.
We have also noticed an escalated theft of signs this season and have had many concerned residents contact us about Democratic signs stolen from their property.
Several of our members submitted replies to these accusations. They are posted below.
Letter 1: Theft and Vandalism Is NOT a “Party Thing”
A Press released by the Kane County Republican Party on October 19, 2024 indicated that they have had an alarming series of incidents stealing or vandalizing their candidates signs. Stating that it is “disheartening to see our Democrat competitors resorting to criminal tactics.”
BOTH Democratic and Republican candidates have been the victims of this nefarious activity.
In the last general election, this was a new phenomenon with the ugly politics of the Republican candidate for president. There were three signs that were stolen in my yard within two weeks.
This year 3rd Street in St. Charles had the entire street swept of Harris/ Walz signs. Candidate Brenda Englehardt had a sign run over and cut by a utility knife. Dozens have been stolen in Elgin. A county Board member had all his Democratic signs stolen from his front yard only 20 feet away from his front door.
The Democratic office where signs are stored cannot keep up with the demand of replacing stolen signs. It could be kids, but I seriously doubt it is the candidates. Sorry Republicans, you don’t have a corner on this market. Let’s agree to stop the bantering and knock it off.
Letter 2: Latest Gibberish From the Complaining Party
This is in response to the lengthy complaint run by the local Republican party, whose very platform is underpinned by either false or misleading comments about (mainly) county governance board (alleged) or inactions or actions.
In this latest gibberish the complaining party infers that sign removals or damage somehow have to do with the Democrat party. Simply not true, but we, like they, have no say over what individuals, on their own, may properly or improperly do.
In the hue and cry of the Republican complaint it is noted that a young man, acting on directive of his employer, removed some signs. This strongly suggests that the signs were on property without permission of the owner, and so in keeping with misleading or false allegations characterizing the rest of the shrieking, it is inferred that the Democrats had something to do with this. Not so.
Shakespeare, perhaps thought of as an undocumented immigrant by the Republicans, would reuse his line “Methinks thou dost protest too much.” Could their conspiracy laced efforts be put to use tearing down their own signs to get a big complaint in a last ditch pitch?
No one should tear down signs, that is an attack on freedom of speech. In addition, no one should put up signs without permission of the property owner, that is trespassing.
Let it pass. Let the voting for sense continue.
