Democratic candidate signs vandalized in Meredith, Laconia

A Harris-Walz campaign sign in Meredith was vandalized earlier this week, prompting concern from Democrats. MEREDITH DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE—Courtesy
Published: 09-26-2024 9:19 AM |
The recent vandalism of a political sign serves as a reminder that regulations around such displays exist in a gray area.
A campaign sign promoting Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president, placed near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Barnard Ridge Road in Meredith by a member of the Meredith Democratic Committee, was cut into pieces and left on the ground at some point Tuesday, committee Chair Richard Demark said Wednesday afternoon.
In New Hampshire, the removal, defacement or destruction of political advertising is a crime and those liable for such actions could face civil penalties up to $1,000, according to the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
“I was told by a volunteer in Meredith and I went to take a look,” Demark said. “I don’t know when it happened.”
Demark said this isn’t the first such incident in recent memory. During the 2020 election, numerous cases occurred in towns throughout the Lakes Region.
“It’s not the first time this has happened this election cycle,” Demark said. “Other signs have been taken down — this is nothing new.”
The sign in question was placed on public property, which Demark said typically hosts campaign signage representing candidates from all political parties.
In general, municipalities in the Lakes Region are relaxed regarding the placement of political signs. The state Department of Transportation, however, will remove signs within their right of way if they need to do so or identify an obstruction to traffic.
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“It’s been common practice,” Demark said, regarding placing signs in that specific intersection. “We would appreciate people letting us know if their signs have been vandalized.”
Lt. Phillip McLaughlin of the Meredith Police Department said Wednesday he hasn’t received any reports of sign vandalism, and members of the department hope citizens would refrain from such actions and respect the political opinions of their neighbors. He referred those with questions regarding placement to NH DOT.
But vandalism hasn’t been isolated to Meredith this year. Chair of the Laconia Democrats Jason Sproul said Wednesday afternoon Harris-Walz signs were vandalized on private property on both Gilford Avenue and Shore Drive in recent days.
“We consider this kind of childish, bullying behavior to be unacceptable and un-American,” Sproul said, adding he’d like anyone who experienced similar vandalism or theft to report it to Laconia police and to the Democratic committee.
The placement of signs is not strictly regulated by the state. NH DOT will remove signs if it needs to. According to state law, political advertising may not be placed on public property but could be placed in a state right-of-way if the private owner of the property gives their consent. Political advertising placed on any public property must be removed by state, town or city maintenance or law enforcement personnel.
One such case occurred in Laconia earlier this year.
During the Sept. 9 meeting of Laconia City Council, councilors discussed rules pertaining to political signage in the city following the apparent removal of some from Parade Road.
Ward 1 Councilor Bruce Cheney said two constituents asked him what the city’s rules were regarding political signs, noting there were many placed on Parade Road near the intersection of Elm Street before quickly disappearing.
“Our Public Works Department in past years has taken them off of public property, which I think is what the ordinance requires,” Cheney said.
City Manager Kirk Beattie said the city did not remove the signs from Parade Road.
Ward 5 Councilor Steven Bogert said it was the state DOT which removed the signs along the road.
“That was the DOT on Friday morning that removed them all, and after having a conversation with the DOT, all the way up to the commissioner on their timing, it was pulled for maintenance of the road on Route 3 from McIntyre Circle all the way up, and then Parade Road all the way up,” Bogert said. “It fell under the Meredith district.”
“We ought to know or be sure that our ordinance, A: is being enforced, and B: is how we want it,” Cheney said.
“Our ordinance immediately references state RSA anyhow so there’s not much of a difference,” Beattie said.
According to the city ordinance pursuant to political signs, such signage shall be removed by the candidate no later than the second Friday following the date of the election, unless that election is a primary and the advertising concerns a winner of the primary.
Municipalities appear to take a laissez-faire approach to political signage more generally. In Belmont, where police haven’t received any reports of political signage vandalism in recent days, police recommend citizens check with NH DOT regarding the placement of their signs, noting NH DOT will remove the signs if they decide it’s necessary.
There are certain circumstances where municipal police will move signs back from roads and intersections to ensure visibility, but they will not remove them, Belmont Chief Mark Lewandowski said Wednesday afternoon.
Not every Lakes Region community has been affected. Gilford Police Capt. Dustin Parent said Wednesday afternoon his department hadn’t received any calls related to vandalism of political signs