In Woodbury, a Sign of the Times
Have political signs been stolen from your yard?
Photos
Bob Tatreau has lived in Woodbury for 22 years.
He’s a Republican, and shows his support with yard signs for local candidates and GOP-backed issues.
Several of his yard signs were recently stolen.
“This happens to me every year,” Tatreau said.
And not just to him, Woodbury police told Patch.
Between Aug. 21 and Tuesday, Aug. 28, police received seven calls about stolen political signs, said Michelle Okada with the Woodbury Public Safety Department. Of course, many of the incidents go unreported.
Related: Freedom of Speech Under Attack
Tatreau has lights on his signs, but it didn’t stop thieves from taking six of his nine. He’s planning to install security cameras.
“The first time it happens, you do feel violated. … But to be in this game, you’ve got to thicken your skin,” Tatreau said.
Running for elected office for the first time in 2012, JoAnn Ward said she has fielded plenty of phone calls and emails from supporters whose signs were stolen. One neighborhood had every sign stolen along a four- to six-block span.
“People are volunteering to put these (signs) up,” she said. “It’s frustrating and disappointing.”
Including their wire stands, the signs cost about $4.50 apiece, said Ward, who lives in Woodbury.
While she said face-to-face interaction is more important, Ward did note that signage gives voters some context, especially for someone like her, who, as a former realtor, knows the value of getting one’s name in the public eye.
“It’s all about name recognition,” Ward said.
Despite his signs being stolen again this year, Tatreau said he won’t be deterred.
“I’ll just keep putting them up,” he said.
Who's Running?
Woodbury City Council
Paul Rebholz (i)
Amy Scoggins (i)
State Senate District 53
R-Ted Lillie (i)
House District 53A
House District 53B
R-Andrea Kieffer (i)
Washington County Board District 5
Lisa Weik (i)
Washington County Board District 2
Bill Pulkrabek (i)
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Kris Janisch
2:27 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I'm a bit surprised nobody has weighed in with their own story.
mary jensen
9:31 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Were the signs placed on their property? Every election the Wedgewood Association has to remove signs from the easements as they are not allowed. Could this be the problem with some of these signs, they are placed in others property?
Kris Janisch
9:53 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Good point Mary, not sure how aggressive the city is with enforcing those things. But does the association actively go out and remove them, or tell the nearby homeowner first?
mary jensen
12:04 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
I am pretty sure they call the homeowner first and then the politician. If it is not removed when the mowers come, they have the right to remove them so they are not in the way.
Kris Janisch
12:05 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Got it, thanks for the info mary!
Kris Janisch
8:37 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Someone emailed me the city's policy: http://www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/government/elections/campaign-sign-regulations
Mark Abrizenski
8:49 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
We had our signs stolen on Pinehurst rd and the police caught the 4 girls that had stolen the signs early sat morning. What the neighbors had told me they were driving by and 3 of the girls were running from house to house and throwing them in the car as the driver moved down the street.
Kris Janisch
8:57 am on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thanks for the update Mark. Juveniles?