EDITORIAL
As often happens, unidentified thieves in the night have besmirched the political process by stealing a batch of political signs from vacant lots, fenced yards in area neighborhoods and front lawns of candidates’ supporters.
These signs cost a sizeable sum of money. They require a considerable amount of sweat to erect and, in hard rock ground, occasional words that aren’t heard in Sunday school are often muttered.
Although some of the miscreants may be engaging in what they mistakenly claim to be innocent fun, they are in fact indulging in outright theft. They have robbed the candidates of their financial resources and trespassed on the private property of voters.
It is neither “cute” behavior nor an “innocent” prank. And, it doesn’t seem to be partisan in nature. The March 2 primary elections are a winnowing process for both the Republican and the Democratic parties as they work toward choosing a single nominee for the general election this November.
We have used this selection process in Texas for more than a 100 years. Prior to the establishment of these party primaries, candidates were chosen at party conventions where there was considerable chicanery, including the outright “purchase” of votes by wealthy interests and powerful politicians.
Money, of course, still talks, but in county and precinct level elections, candidates with limited resources have a much better chance of success than they did in the past, wth the use of relatively low-cost yard signs.
Theft of these signs is a criminal act. We understand that some enterprising victims have managed to get video shots of the license plates at several sites that fell prey to the “perps.”
The Sheriff’s office and appropriate police officers are hot on their trail. If caught and charged with criminal acts, we intend to publicize the results and names of any of the culprits who are charged with criminal acts.
