HOLLISTER
More than 125 McCain-Palin yard signs have gone missing, according to Marvin Jones, chairman of the San Benito County Republican Party.
He also said that’s not the only trouble with Republican signage.
“A couple of our four-by-eights have disappeared,” said Jones, referring to the large campaign signs that are posted into the ground. “The one out on Airline and Fairview got cut all up, and then it disappeared. The one on 25 has been vandalized and torn down.The one on San Benito Street has been knocked down, and the one on Union is gone also.”
The most troubling incident, according to the county republican chairman, occurred at the home of James Payne, who was awakened by the sound of his sign posts snapping.
“He went running out and saw the sign and a flag he had put nearby laying on the ground and doused in gasoline,” said Jones, who added that reports have been filed with the police, but that, “They just give you a number.”
“The Hollister Police Department is somewhat inert,” said Jones.
Captain Brooks of the Hollister Police Department responded to that statement by commenting: “I suppose any object is inert until you give it a direction to move in.
Brooks went on: “He makes a report – we keep our eyes open. If we get a lead we follow up on it, but if it’s just, ‘I put a sign here, and it’s gone,’ then there isn’t much to do.”
The Democrats haven’t noticed a change from the usual sign stealing that happens every year, according to Jeanie Wallace, chairwoman of the county’s Democratic Central Committee.
“If anything, we had more stolen four years ago,” said Wallace, who went on to note that her party puts up far fewer signs than the Republicans. “I think they give them out for free, and people have to pay $7 for one of our lawn signs.”
Jones gave another example that Republican signs are being targeted in a way they haven’t been in the past.
“I got a call from the manager of a supermarket who said some of the signs were behind the store in a Dumpster. I went there and there were 17 signs all together,” said Jones, noting that such a large number indicated that someone was dedicated to removing Republican signs.
