A Democrat and Republican agree: Leave our signs alone!

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 29, 2017

SNOHOMISH — Stolen political signs are like the rain: something you can expect every fall.

As candidates jockey ahead of the upcoming November election, however, they have collectively bemoaned a level of sign theft and vandalism unseen in other recent cycles.

While far apart on the issues, Republican Snohomish County Councilman Sam Low and Kristin Kelly, the Democrat vying for his seat, sent out a unified message:

“Candidates Kelly and Low have agreed to run clean campaigns and want to focus on the issues and their positions, leaving the decision up to voters who they want to represent them in the 5th (County Council) District through the next four years,” they said in a joint statement. “Political signs need to be left alone until after the election on November 7.”

County candidates aren’t the only ones who have noticed.

Two mayoral contenders in Snohomish vented similar frustrations on Facebook.

“The destruction of my signs continues … just found this one earlier today … cut with a blade … and another cut in multiple pieces near 13th and Ave A,” candidate Karen Guzak wrote online.

Opponent John Kartak, in a Facebook post, said he wouldn’t point fingers at his opponent or her supporters, but did appear to take a jab.

“NOBODY’S campaign team is damaging or stealing anyone else’s signs, and every individual in Snohomish deserves equal respect,” he wrote. “My advice is to just keep a smile on your face and fix or replace the signs as needed. Nobody likes a complainer and as a friendly note to someone in particular, just leaving your signs hanging crooked for weeks on end probably doesn’t inspire confidence in voters.”

The county auditor plans to mail general election ballots Oct. 19.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@herald net.com. Twitter:@NWhaglund.