Campaign signs disappear: Smartt suspects he must have ruffled feathers

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Keith Smartt places a campaign sign in front of his College Street office where one had been stolen earlier. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Judicial candidate Keith Smartt’s recent comments that the upcoming election should not be decided on the basis of campaign signs or billboards was apparently taken to heart by someone who has systematically stolen many of his campaign signs.

“It’s just childish,” Smartt said, noting the sign thief was brazen enough to take the campaign sign out of the front yard of his College Street law office. “If this person wants a sign that bad, they can come to my door and ask me for one and I’ll even autograph it for them.”

Smartt said the sign removal has been systematic since his official announcement appeared in the Southern Standard Sunday.

During the announcement, Smartt urged voters not to be swayed by fancy signs and billboards.

“Someone obviously took that statement very seriously,” Smartt said. “They just started disappearing after the article ran so I guess I must have ruffled some feathers.”

Smartt noted the signs are not real expensive and that he can easily replace them. However, the candidate said the thievery is more of an annoyance than anything. In some cases, Smartt said his opponents’ signs, which were inches from his signs, remained untouched while his were removed.

This fact caused Smartt to discount any idea his signs were removed for mowing purposes or due to their being on any right of way. Other candidates had earlier complained of signs being moved and not replaced when people mowed or because they were positioned on a public right of way.

Smartt said he remains in good humor about the situation, noting he will replace the signs which have been removed. Under state law, unauthorized removal of campaign signs is a misdemeanor.