Several election signs in Kelowna have been knocked over or pulled out. Same problem, different opinions. Kelowna mayoral candidate Tom Dias sent out a press release Sunday about damage to election signs. “I know we get these stories every election, but personally I’ve never seen so many signs damaged. This year looks to be much worse than the previous federal and provincial elections,” Dias said. Councilwoman Mohini Singh, who is running for her fourth election, says it’s nothing new. “It happens in every election. The signs are damaged which is unfortunate because these signs are very expensive. “I have made new signs for my campaign and it is quite expensive to get these signs.” Singh couldn’t say how many of hers have been hit or broken into this year, but it doesn’t appear to be any worse than in previous years. Dias notes that the election signs are paid for using donations and are installed by volunteers, who take time out of their busy schedules. It also points out that vandalizing them is illegal. “We continue to receive many reports of our signs being damaged as well as the signs of many Council candidates. “We have also received reports of a vehicle driving around Kelowna with three males in it stopping at election signs, putting a flashing yellow intermediate light over their vehicle and then proceeding to damage the signs and leave them on the ground .They’re trying to look like our regulation laborers,” Dias said. Dias is one of five mayoral candidates, including incumbent Colin Bashran. Singh is among a list of 32 people hoping to become one of the eight councilors elected on October 15. Photo: Team Tom Dyas Tom Dyas helps fix some of the knocked down election signs.
