A candidate running for council in Shelburne is looking for the individuals responsible for vandalizing his campaign signs.
Timothy Gillespie, who is running for the District 7 council seat in the Municipality of Shelburne, says a number of his signs were removed, damaged and even defaced this week.
He says COVID-19 restrictions have largely kept him from going door-to-door, so the signs were important to his campaign.
“I decided I really needed to do more than just flyers, so I got a bunch of signs created,” he said.
“I placed them in what I thought were strategic places around the district, and everything was fine until about four days ago, when somebody started trashing my signs.
“It was at that point I realized someone really wanted to screw with my campaign.”
Gillespie is one of two candidates running for District 7, which covers Sable River, Allendale and Little Harbour.
Dale Richardson, a fisherman from Shelburne, is also running for the position.
The signs were made by Gillespie by hand, and held a value of about $300 of his own money. While he says the value isn’t important, the signs are not easily created.
“It’s still hours and hours and hours of getting materials, building and washing the screens, changing the colours, etc.,” he said, “It’s absolutely the largest expense in my campaign.”
Gillespie says his largest sign, placed at what he considers a key intersection in the riding, had his opponent’s name spray painted on it.
He has since spoken to Richardson, who has denied involvement and was unable to pinpoint who could be responsible.
Gillespie contacted the RCMP about the signs, and is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the identity of those involved in their destruction. He asks anyone with info to contact him here.
Despite feeling a bit defeated from the set back, the vandalism hasn’t impacted his drive to fight for the position.
“I feel convinced I’m the right person to be the councilor for this area, and I am going to continue to press my case,” he said.
Follow Cody McEachern on Twitter at @CodyInHiFi for more.
