Published: October 10, 2008 03:35 am            

Theft of GOP signs increase

PALESTINE — Apparently local political sign thieves are equal opportunity offenders.

According to residents along W. Park Avenue and S. Royall Street near the Museum for East Texas Culture, political signs touting both Barack Obama and John McCain for president have been taken from yards in the last 10 days.

After reading a story in the Herald-Press on Thursday about thefts of Obama signs, local resident Julie Abston says her neighborhood has had a different experience.

Abston said she normally doesn’t put out yard signs or bumper stickers but felt strongly enough this year to pay $2 for the yard sign to voice her support for the Republican ticket of McCain and Sarah Palin.

A regular early morning walker, she noticed her yard sign, set out in the yard of a property she owns near her home, as well as others near her house missing when she left her house one morning last week.

“On Park Street, there were two McCains, four Obamas and some more McCains on down around the corner,” Abston said. “It was everybody’s, not just one party.”

Nearby, Wayne Moore also lost a McCain sign from his yard. Like Abston, he said he normally didn’t put out signs supporting candidates, other than occasionally for local candidates such as Mayor Carolyn Salter, his next-door neighbor.

“I’m really an Independent, I guess,” Moore said. “I’m not a Republican, but I’m going to vote Republican. I don’t vote for the party, I vote for the man.”

At $2 a sign, he hadn’t bothered to report the theft to police, Moore said.

“I figured I’d replace it,” he explained. “The neighbor across the street lost two Obama signs. Another lost three Obama signs. I don’t know who took them.”

Likewise, Abston said she just replaced the signs rather than file a police report. This time, though, she put the replacement in her own yard, rather than the property nearby, so that she could take it in at night.

“It’s a hassle to go back and forth to put the sign out,” Abston said. “I don’t want it stolen.”

Both Moore and Abston said they think the thefts probably aren’t racially motivated but more likely the work of kids.

“It’s not a party thing or a prejudice thing,” Abston said. “Everybody’s was stolen on our street. I think it’s just somebody out getting everybody’s signs.”

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Anderson County Democratic Party headquarters are located at 212 W. Oak St. in downtown Palestine and may contacted by phone at 903-723-1700.

Anderson County Republican Party headquarters are located at 515 N. Church St. across from the Anderson County Courthouse and may be contacted by phone at 903-729-4949.

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com

        

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