Political Campaign Signs Get Vandalized

REDLANDS>> On. Oct 2, Dr. Shaheen Lakhan, Redlands Unified School District Governing Board candidate, was driving near the intersection of California Avenue and Barton Road when he noticed one of his campaign signs was vandalized. The day before, On Oct. 1, he and other campaign supporters were placing campaign yard signs in the area only to find himself filing a police report the next day. The police report states the sign was removed from its position and the stakes had been bent and placed in a different position than originally placed. According to state law AB-362, a person who takes, possesses, damages, reuses or moves any political sign or signs without authorization from the owner of the sign or signs and with the intent to prevent, substantially alter, or substantially obscure the communication of the sign, is guilty of an infraction or a misdemeanor. “It simply did not fall down or was taken by the wind, given the way the stakes were removed, bent and put into the yard sign in a different manner,” the police report states. Lakhan said the motives are still under investigation but that people can draw their own suspicions. “I do feel targeted in this campaign, particularly because opponents of my own race and other races were left pristine and my signs were not. There was some malicious activity there. It would be a sad day in local election politics if this was racially motivated or because of any other background characteristic.” James O’Neill, retired educator and fellow school board candidate for Redlands Unified School District, said Lakhan is not the only candidate having campaign sign issues. “I have had to replace at least 20 signs at various locations in Loma Linda, Highland and Redlands,” O’Neill said in an email. “Without naming names, my sign was replaced by another candidate's sign at a few locations. At other locations, my sign just disappeared.” O’Neill said without catching anyone in the act, it is impossible to tell who is removing or vandalizing campaign signs. “This is my first venture into ‘politics’ and I'm disappointed, although not surprised, that some people do not respect our Constitutional rights and choose to ignore campaigning laws and etiquette,” O’Neill said. “Sadly, the only good thing about the situation is that there will be fewer signs to pick up after the election.” Ensen Mason, candidate for the RUSD Governing Board, said through his experience, he has seen this crime as a common crime. “I have no clue what happened (to Lakhan’s signs) but sometimes it’s kids being kids, sometimes weather and sometimes accidents," Mason said in an email. "By Election Day, most signs will look pretty haggard.” In a message to those who have vandalized signs, Mason said to “Get a life. There are far more productive things to do with your time.”