Vandals steal, destroy campaign signs

Dennis Tooley repairs downed signs. photo by Jim Mitchell Dennis Tooley spent Thursday afternoon resurrecting political campaign signs at the intersection of Highway 20 and Cloverdale Road. Tooley is a member of the Deschutes County GOP Executive Committee.

The damaged signs were reported by a citizen irate that the small American flag attached to the signs was now lying on the ground.

Campaign signs have been lifted from both sides of the political fence.

Several Sisters area residents have reported that their "Kerry-Edwards" signs were stolen within hours of putting them up in their yards.

Tooley and the Deschutes County Republican Party are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of campaign sign thieves and/or vandals. The reward applies to all campaign signs, regardless of party affiliation or political stand.

Sign thefts and vandalism are a mark of the intensity of feeling about this campaign.

Tooley said that in 30 years of political campaigning he has never seen the like. He said, "People are on one side of the line or the other. There is no gray area."