Campaign sign vandalized less than a day after being placed

Less than a day after placing signs for his campaign, school board candidate Ben Kolendo learned at least one sign had been destroyed.

“I am deeply saddened to report that one of my campaign signs was destroyed within just 24 hours of being put up,” he wrote in a statement addressing the vandalism, which appears to have taken place between July 31 and August 1, 2024, when Kolendo was notified of the destroyed sign. No other signs from other current campaigns appear to have been destroyed as of August 5.

Photos show that the wood frame supporting the signs was badly damaged, rendering it most likely unusable, and the sign itself ripped and stomped on or run over by a bike.

These acts of vandalism are not merely attacks on my campaign, but rather attempts to silence important conversations about the future of our education system.”

Kolendo announced his candidacy for the that Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) school board in May during a school board meeting, saying, "Our district is at a critical juncture, and the decisions we make now will shape the educational experiences for our students for years to come," before laying out his platform. "Fiscal responsibility, streamlined education, and a commitment to traditional education system."

During school board elections last year, several signs for Diane Shibe had been vandalized, tagged with “Kid Porn” spray painted over her name, with one of her boards had been smashed and broken so badly that she could not use it again.

“They spray painted the sign at Seward-Meridian and Bogard. They also spray-painted the one on Bogard and Trunk. That one they also sawed in half the frame so it could never be set back up again,” Shibe said at the time.

Shibe was running against MSBSD member Ole Larson, and he too reported that they also had signs damaged and stolen.

“We had some large ones and many small ones being taken or smashed. One time, the day we put them up, they were being taken not an hour after. We have had approximately 50 small signs taken,” his campaign said.

Kolendo says that he is disheartened that such destructive behavior is being used to undermine his efforts to advocate for a better education system and remains steadfast in campaign.

“My commitment to improving educational standards and preparing our students for a bright future remains unwavering, despite these setbacks.”

Kolendo says that despite the vandalism, he and his supporters will continue to ensure that his message about the importance of educational excellence continues to reach voters.

“This attack won’t stop us from achieving our goals.”

Local upcoming elections are set for November 5, 2024.