Vandals hit Anderson campaign signs

MAT-SU -- Vandals who destroy or remove political campaign signs aren't overlooking any candidates in the race for Mat-Su Borough mayor.

A story in Friday's edition of the Frontiersman publicized the destruction of large blue Charlie Fannon signs throughout the Valley. Incumbent mayor Tim Anderson, who is seeking a second term, is having the same problem.

"It is normal in a campaign," Anderson said. "I know that's part of it."

One of his signs along Schrock Road has been knocked down repeatedly, apparently by someone on a four-wheeler. Anderson said signs at another location have been taken three times, and each time he put up another one.

"Signs become symbols," he said, adding that some people may object to them visually rather than politically. Either way, there's a price to replace them.

"Big signs may cost 100 bucks," Anderson said. "They do get expensive."

Anderson hasn't tallied the cost to replace snatched or broken signs.

He emphasized that his campaign workers ask permission from each property owner before posting a sign.

"It's an ethical thing," he said. "Of course, there are rules from the Department of Transportation about right-of-way."

Mary Haley, Anderson's campaign manager, said it's important to tell campaign volunteers that taking down opponents' signs is forbidden.

"You make it clear to your staff that you are running a clean campaign," she said. "You run it with fair play."

Anderson said he's had fewer problems with signs this year than he did during his campaign three years ago.

Steve Menard, the other candidate for borough mayor, said he has only put up a couple of signs so far. But he's resigned to having some taken or damaged later on.

"I'm still new in the sign-making process," he said, "but unfortunately it is part of the game. For whatever reason, people voice their complaints through destruction of signs."