At least one of two large campaign signs for Democratic candidate Barbara Lifflander, worth more than $1,000, has been knocked down.
The 41st District resident, who is challenging John Atkins in the Democratic primary on Sept. 9, said the incident occurred sometime between Aug. 10-11.
“I’ve been permitted to put a sign up by Truitt’s Carpet, on Main Street in Millsboro, for my previous campaigns,” Lifflander said.
This year, an Atkins sign joined Lifflander’s on the main drag through downtown Millsboro, but she said her sign is now torn down and laying on the ground.
Representatives from her campaign were also checking on a second sign, installed near Captain Bill’s Bait & Tackle Shop, on Route 24 west of Millsboro.
“The smaller political signs are stolen all the time, and that’s just part of the business, but these signs cost me more than $1,000; [destroying them] is a felony,” said Lifflander, who officially filed charges with the Millsboro Police Department on Aug. 11, although the information in the crime report about a possible suspect lists all fields as “unknown.”
Lifflander made no bones about who she felt was responsible: friends and colleagues of her Democratic opponent, John Atkins.
Atkins said that, more than likely, the storm that came through the area in the evening hours of Aug. 10 damaged the sign.
“When we were out there putting my sign up, [hers] didn’t appear to be very well secured,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the wind knocked it over.”
Lifflander said the incident, coupled with previous incidents in which she said she received pornographic and threatening emails to her campaign Web site, may cause her to withdraw from the election.
“It’s all very stressful, and I just don’t know if it’s worth it,” she said.
MILLSBORO, DEL. —
