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OPS investigating claims of sign tampering on night before election

October 30, 2018   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

While Monday’s municipal election may now be in the books, the Orangeville Police Service are continuing to investigate allegations of targeted sign tampering the night before the vote.

Speaking to the Citizen earlier in the week, OPS Chief Wayne Kalinski confirmed at least three complaints had been submitted to police by candidates concerned that some of their signs had been stolen ahead of Monday’s election. The Citizen has since confirmed those complaints were lodged by Sandy Brown, Todd Taylor and Lisa Post, all of whom wound up winners..

“Unfortunately, this is an issue every time there is an election. This has been an issue as long as I’ve been a police officer,” Chief Kalinski said. “Destroying or stealing election signs is a criminal offence. We have heard from a number of individuals that this has been a real problem this year.”

Chief Kalinski confirmed OPS was investigating the claims and noted charges would be laid if someone is found to have tampered with signs.

Ian Worte, a key member of Sandy Brown’s mayoral campaign team, informed the Citizen that between 200 and 250 signs that had been strategically placed at various community polls, most notably at Alder Recreation Centre, Tony Rose Arena and Parkinson Centennial Public School, disappeared overnight on Sunday. The dollar value of those signs, Mr. Worse says, was in the region of $1,000.

“I think it’s really immature that in today’s day and age we’re still seeing people stoop so low as to deface, or in our case, eliminate election signs,” Mr. Worte said. “You do get the feeling that someone is trying to manipulate the outcome of the election, but at the end of the day elections are about more than just signs.”

Fellow mayoral candidate Darrin Davidson informed the Citizen that approximately half the 585 signs he erected throughout the community disappeared at some point during the election. When asked if he too had fallen victim to vandals targeting his signs, Jeremy Williams noted “this has been the worst campaign I’ve ever been involved in”.

Mr. Taylor admitted he was frustrated to learn that approximately 15 of his signs disappeared the night before the election, stating the act is a “sad reflection” on someone in the community. Ms. Post told the Citizen she lost around 12 signs overnight on Sunday, with about 30 going missing at different stages throughout the campaign.

“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous and terribly frustrating,” Ms. Post said. “It’s a different level of desperation. There have been sign games played throughout this election process, but when you start having strategically placed signs go missing the night before the vote, it becomes a little too much.”

Deputy mayor-elect Andy Macintosh has had to withstand continued attacks on his election signs throughout town ever since they went up after the Labour Day long weekend. He estimates he’s lost in the region of 100 signs in total, with areas along Broadway and Blind Line being hit hardest. Despite that, Mr. Macintosh noted he “made out okay” in the final days of the election, with no signs reported missing.

Anyone with information that could help the ongoing investigation is asked to contact OPS at 519-941-2522, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at crimstopperssdm.com.


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