Public Safety
County commissioner candidate reports campaign-sign vandalism near Lacey; sheriff's deputy to follow up
Thurston County Commission District 5 candidate Nic Dunning says eight of his campaign signs have been destroyed, most recently on video near McAllister Grove Community Park. The Sheriff's Office confirmed it received a report. His opponent, Commissioner Emily Clouse, says her campaign has lost signs too.
A candidate for the Thurston County Board of Commissioners has reported campaign-sign vandalism to the Sheriff's Office.
What's reported. Nic Dunning, running for the District 5 seat, told The Olympian that eight of his signs have been "destroyed," costing about $3,000 to $4,000. The latest happened around 1:20 a.m. Oct. 6 at a roundabout near McAllister Grove Community Park, he said, and he posted video of a person tearing down a sign.
Detective Sgt. Alan Clark confirmed to The Olympian that the office received an online report Friday, which The Olympian's account places on Oct. 9. A deputy will follow up. No arrest has been reported.
Unconfirmed. Dunning said he believes the person is connected to his opponent's campaign but named no one. That claim is unconfirmed, and Sound Neighbors has seen no evidence identifying the person in the video.
The other side. Commissioner Emily Clouse said her campaign has also lost more than $1,000 in signs this year. "Destroying signs is illegal," she told The Olympian.
The law. Removing or defacing lawful political signs is a misdemeanor in Washington (RCW 29A.84.040).
If it happens to you: in unincorporated areas, call non-emergency dispatch at 360-704-2740; inside cities, call local police.
