Republicans Stealing Signs, Caterwauling About Sign Stealing?

Republicans are stealing Democrats' signs again here in Paradise.

Theft of political signs is a sin, a crime and a tort, directing a dagger at the heart of our democracy.  Republicans here in St. Johns County routinely indulge in this sinful, criminal and tortious practice, a stench in the nostrils of our Nation's Oldest City and oddest county, which some of us still call and remember as "God's Country," before wicked developers empowered by developers started clear-cutting, wetland-filling and building the Fortune 500 equivalent of sharecropper shacks, complete with flooded streets..

A known Republican, beloved history writer Karen Harvey has a letter in the St. Augustine Record today lamenting sign stealing.  Karen Harvey, the Historic Architectural Review Board alternate member, is pals with controversial Republican hrnvhmsn ROBERT THORNTON SMITH, a serial fraudfeasor who procured five bogus write-in candidates to close four universal primaries in 2016.  Five shills kept Democrats and independents from voting for Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, Sheriff and County Commissioners. SMITH once admitted coordinating Republican sign-stealing efforts in conversations with 2008 Democratic Congressional nominee Faye Armitage, and me, and others.  SMITH copped to having a ring of sign-stealers and tried to ransom signs back to Ms. Armitage, who refused to endorse some of his endorsed candidates, but accepted back from SMITH dozens of her signs that he had in the trunk of his car.  SMITH bragged to me about his close relationships with Flagler College Chancellor, the State's Attorney, and other worthies.  This is not the only candidate whose signs SMITH alleged stole and attempted to ransom.  Ask Merrill Roland, 2016 mosquito control candidate; SMITH allegedly went to his home with Roland's signs and a ransom demand,  Roland called 911.

SMITH brags about intimidating African-American voters: he's bragged to me about it.

Led by St. Johns County Republican Executive Committee Chair JERRY THOMAS CAMERON, a/k/a "JERRY CONMAN," St. Johns County Republicans recently named arachnid apparatchik ROBERT THORNTON SMITH their First Vice President, despite prior peculation and firing, and his being criminal prosecuted by a special prosecutor for alleged $3700 bad check to Screen Arts, supposedly on behalf of the Newt Gingrich campaign in 2012.  The SMITH crime story was first reported on page 7 of the February 20, 2012 issue of Folio Weekly Magazine, which noted workers worked overtime to make signs SMITH paid for with a bad check.  Seventh Circuit State's Attorney RALPH JOSEPH LARIZZA recused himself because SMITH had worked on his official and campaign staffs, with Governor RICHARD LYNN SCOTT naming another Republican to the case, dropped after someone fixed the problem caused by dishonest, disingenuous, impecunious arachnid apparatchik BOB SMITH.

Campaign signs are free speech, 

but not free

Posted Nov 2, 2018 at 4:34 PM

St. Augustine Record 

EDITOR: This is responding to a letter regarding campaign signs. It is not only the right but the obligation of candidates to erect political signs. It is also a part of free speech. The Republican Party Headquarters hands out signs, bumper stickers and informational material to anyone wishing it. Volunteers and employees working at the headquarters ask that the person requesting signs be aware of rules and regulations regarding signage.

Signs cost money. Stealing or “removing” signs is theft — nothing else. Signs are also a reminder of the right to vote, and everyone needs to be aware of the candidates. Yard signs cost approximately $5 each. The large 4-by-4-foot signs are about $100. During the 2016 Trump campaign, at least $5,000 worth of signs were removed or destroyed.

As for bumper stickers, we have had our cars damaged because of our stickers. This is malicious and criminal behavior. The stickers were placed there to provide awareness of the candidates.

No matter what, the signs are only up for the election period, so why is there an outcry about signs? Neighborhoods can suggest limits, and I personally don’t want too many in my yard, but there are laws stating that freedom of speech gives anyone the right to advertise a candidate.

The basic motivation is to get everyone out to vote and early voting is achieving much attention and success. Give people wishing to have signs the right to do so. Read them and think about whom the candidates are and what he or she stands for. It is everyone’s responsibility as a voter.

Karen Harvey, St. Augustine