To: KLP who wrote (184668 ) 10/31/2006 11:42:15 AM From: Alan Smithee Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 793715 Washington State Democrats Make Sign Stealing Part of Political Strategy Close Legislative Races Get Hit by Theft Seattle – With evidence of wrongdoing mounting in state legislative races in King County, Washington State Republican Party Chairman Diane Tebelius said it’s time for the Democrat Party leadership to step in and stop their sign-stealing thieves. “There is an ongoing strategy to steal signs in an effort to suppress the Republican message of our candidates,” said Tebelius. “It’s time for Dwight Pelz and the Democrat leadership to stop this juvenile and illegal behavior.” Tebelius highlighted recent news coverage of the 48th legislative district as an example, where Democrat candidate Deb Eddy removed 263 yard signs owned by the King County Republican Party. The Eddy case is the subject of a police investigation. Police this past weekend apprehended sign thieves in the Auburn--Black Diamond area when Republican candidate Donna Watts spotted two individuals pulling up her campaign signs and throwing them into a truck and van. Donna Watts is challenging state Rep. Geoff Simpson in the 47th legislative district. In the 45th legislative district, Republican candidates Jeffrey Possinger and Tim Lee have lost thousands of dollars worth of signs in Redmond and Kirkland, and thieves have shredded and chopped up signs leaving debris along the sides of the road. “The Democrat leadership and their candidates have been silent about this illegal behavior,” said Tebelius, “Because of the Democrats, our law enforcement officials spend valuable time going after these petty thieves when they need to place full attention on keeping our communities safe.” “So, the question to Dwight Pelz and the Democrat leadership is; do you condone this behavior as part of the Democrat strategy, or do you plan to honor the law and call-off the thieves in your own party?” Tebelius said. News coverage of the Bellevue incident: