Vandals Target Political Candidates

It appears some vandals in the area want politicians to cut the campaigning.

Recently, outside school board candidate Don Stephenson's Land O' Lakes neighborhood,  signs for Senate candidate John Korsak and property appraiser candidate Walter Price were cut with a box cutter and thrown on the ground.

Both candidates later repaired the signs and put them back up, Stephenson said.

Then it happened again. Late last week, signs for Stephenson, Price and  Korsak, as well as Ron Oakley, Kathryn Starkey, Bill Gunter and Chris Gregg were vandalized, Stephenson said.

"The signs for Chris Nocco and Mike Wells are still in perfect shape, and have never been touched," he said, though he acknowledges that may not be the case in other areas.

According to 10 News, Nocco supporters had signs placed on private property stolen last month.

Republican precinct representative Mary Ann Wilson told 10 News that of all the signs in her garden, only the Nocco signs were stolen, and that at least 30 other people had called her with the same story.

"What's happening all over Pasco is just getting worse day by day. Some people may not like having all these signs around, but candidates work long and hard raising the funds to pay for them," Stephenson said.

Those funds come from citizens who believe in their candidates, he added.

Regardless of the value of the signs lost to damage or theft, "It's the principle of it," Price said.

Reports were filed with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office in both cases, Stephenson said.

Signs placed in a right of way or other restricted areas can be removed by the county, sheriff's office spokesman Kevin Doll noted.

If you see signs being vandalized, or have any information, contact the sheriff's office at 727-844-7711.