GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With the primary election only four weeks away, political signs are starting to become more noticeable.
Vandalism of those signs is common.
On Friday, a Ron Johnson campaign sign with a vulgar phrase was discovered as the sun came up.
“In the words of Ronald Reagan, ‘Here we go again,’” said James Fitzgerald, the chair of the Republican Party of Brown County.
Fitzgerald is talking about his frustration over the recently vandalized Johnson campaign sign.
When out Friday morning, he noticed the spray painted sign. He says the sign cost around $150.
“To see them damaged in such a way is really disgusting,” said Fitzgerald.
Emily Tseffos is the chair for the Democratic Party of Outagamie County. Both sides agree that political sign vandalism is wrong.
“I think it’s appalling,” said Tseffos. “No matter to whom it happens to, it’s private property.”
She says sign vandalism is nothing new in politics today, though.
“We are in very tumultuous times politically,” said Tseffos.
FOX 11 reached out to Senator Johnson’s office. A campaign spokesperson provided this statement: “I’m not sure who vandalized this sign, but with record high inflation, gas prices through the roof and the country on the verge of a recession, it’s obvious Democrats will want to make this election about anything other than Joe Biden’s disastrous policies. It’s unfortunate. Wisconsin deserves better, and Ron Johnson is running to get our country back on track.”
Tseffos disagrees.
“It could’ve been any kind of person because he’s got an approval rating of 37%,” said Tseffos.
Dennis Feldt, who volunteers for the Brown County GOP, put the now vandalized sign up on Wednesday on Monroe Road and County Trunk GV in Bellevue.
He says, from his experience, the Republican party always gets vandalized the most.
“Very seldomly, you see some on the other side that are damaged,” said Feldt. “But the comment is ‘Yeah, it’s both sides.’ Well, I don’t think equally. I go through every day, and I have to straighten them up, so I know what’s out there.”
“I have not seen any data to refute or affirm that” said Tseffos. “I do know there’s a lot driving around. I live in the town of Center — there’s a lot of graffiti on Biden things.”
Overall, when it comes to the sign vandalism, both parties can agree that it’s uncalled for.
The Brown County GOP says it has filed a report with the sheriff’s department.
Theft or vandalism of political signs is a crime in all 50 states. These charges could also be joined with charges for trespassing on private property as well.
