One of the write-in candidates for the single available seat on the Paris School Board reported to the Sheriff’s Department this week that 11 of 20 yards signs he placed late last week are now missing.
Doug Boss of Paris said he placed the signs Friday and Saturday. When he went back to maintain them Tuesday, 11 were missing.
A Sheriff’s Department report said that Boss placed the signs according to guidelines he was given by the Kenosha County Clerk’s Office — in the public right of way in line with utility poles.
Boss told westofthei.com that a larger sign referring to his campaign that he is displaying in his yard has been toppled once and egged another time.
Boss did not identify a suspect to the sheriff’s department.
No one filed candidacy papers in time to be placed on the ballot for the Paris School Board election. Incumbent Leslie Holloway is not running for re-election.
Boss announced his write-in candidacy in early March.
A second write-in candidate, Mike Cavalenes, announced his candidacy March 18.
Cavlenes issued the following statement when asked for comment for this post: “I had two signs disappear. At one house I asked the husband if I could put up a sign and he said yes. I suspect when his schoolteacher wife came home the sign came down. I never got the sign back. At another house the owners who are down south emailed me that I could put up a sign. I suspect the son, daughter or caretaker took down the sign because they did not know I had permission. I never got that sign back either. Getting owner permission to place a sign requires talking to people and for me it is not an easy task. I do NOT condone the juvenile act of taking signs and I will NOT do it.”
Mikey, have you been a bad boy?
From the overwhelming number of Mike Cavalenes signs out there, I’d say Mikey’s been a busy boy, not a bad boy. I noticed a couple of Doug Boss signs pop up on long open stretches of farm land on N. I wondered if he had gotten permission from the landowner to put them there. I’m not saying that he didn’t get permission, but if he did not, then I am not surpised his signs were taken down. I certainly would have taken the sign down if I found it on my property. As for the sign being vandalized in Doug’s yard, I suspect it is a personal matter not related to Mikey or this election. I’ll leave it at that. The other explanation, of course, is the free publicity this story gives him. I haven’t seen people rushing to put his signs in their yards, and this could be just a desperate attempt to both get his name in the paper and implicitly tarnish his opponent in the process. The truth will probably never be known, but nothing would surprise me.
A reply to Parisonic, 1. The number of signs put out only has to do with how many were purchaced, I did not recieve any donations and could not afford the number of signs that Mike has put out. 2. You do not need the property owners permission to place a sign on public right of way. I do not place signs by a home unless I have permission. If a property owner does not like my sign by thier property in the right of way they can call me and i will get it. 3. As for the vandalized sign, it sounds like you know something or think you do, are you invoved ? 4. As for the free PR, I do not want or need it. When these things happen you feel violated, thats why I reported it. 5. I hope you have the back bone to talk to me face to face.
I had two signs disappear.
At one house I asked the husband if I could put up a sign and he said yes. I suspect when his schoolteacher wife came home the sign came down. I never got the sign back.
At another house the owners who are down south emailed me that I could put up a sign.
I suspect the son, daughter or caretaker took down the sign because they did not know I had permission. I never got that sign back either.
I do NOT condone the juvenile act of taking signs and I will NOT do it.
Thank you Mike, I knew you are to goodhearted to be taking signs.
Goodhearted? Maybe, but I’m not too sure. He’s very determined and really thinks he has all the answers. Sounds like a certain bully presently working out of the governors office in Madison.
I think that the candidate should revisit their interpretation of
where political signs can be placed. I have read the Public RIght Of Way statement as being factual several times now. Placing a sign in a public right of way is a NO-NO. Maybe another visit with the COUNTY CLERK or the appropriate TOWN CLERK would clarifiy that for the candidates. IN this story, if signs were in the Public Right of Way as it seems they may have been by the sign owner, they might actually be at the town garage or at the County Building at 45/50 waiting to be picked up. It is very surprising how PERSONAL these signs become during an election but they need to be on approved PRIVATE property, not public property.
I’ve noticed Doug signs in farm fields that are not owned by Paris residents. In order for those signs to stay Doug would have to contact them personally.
From what I understand from the DOT website all the signs along 142 must be moved behind the ditch at a minimum and behind a fence line if there is one. Probably the same on 45. Also, sign posts and MOST utility posts are within the right of way. *Signs must be posted at least 15 feet from the pavement edge!!!!* A LOT of signs should be moved!
It really tests your faith in people when they resort to such childish tactics, yet another sign is gone from hyw. N. Remember these things are not easily forgotten by the good people of Paris.
Doug, that is disappointing.
But you have many signs, as well as Mike and other candidates, that are too close to the road. The fines are $10-100 for the first offense and $10 -500 for the second. If I were running for anything, I would be sure my signs are legal. But nobody should be taking signs except the county dept.
I noticed one of your signs placed in the right of way by the dump along N has disappeared. Some of the others in the right of way also disappeared, but have reappeared. Did you have permission to place the signs?
None of my signs have disappeared in fact one that was missing has amazingly reappeared. Another one of my signs has a whole bunch of holes in it, but I know who is responsible for that.