NDP candidate Claudette Menchenton takes down opponent's profanity-laden election sign
WARNING: The photo and text in this story contain strong language
The NDP candidate in the federal district of Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame, says it was "heartbreaking" to see that two of her opponents in the upcoming Oct. 19 election had their signs defaced — one with a derogatory word scrawled on it.
Claudette Menchenton said she was driving towards Springdale on Sunday when she stopped to add an election sign for NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.
While she was there, she noticed signs belonging to Conservative candidate Kevin O'Brien and Liberal candidate Scott Simms were vandalized.
"I didn't even notice it at first, but then I saw the Conservative sign — Kevin O'Brien is the federal candidate — his sign had something derogatory written across it," she told CBC News Monday afternoon.
The words "F--k Harper" were written across the large sign promoting former provincial cabinet minister O'Brien.
"Then, I looked over and seen that the Liberal candidate Scott Simms had his name blocked out," she said.
Menchenton's sign had the word "Hi" spray painted on it.
"I was in a predicament, where I wanted to lay the signs down out of respect for them, but touching federal property as the opposition, could come across that im tampering with their signs," she said.
Instead, Menchenton said she called both Simms and O'Brien and left messages, as well as sending both men photos of the vandalism.
"We should be respected for the hard work we are trying to put in as candidates," she said. "It's not easy running a campaign."
After someone at O'Brien's office told Menchenton they would have to send someone to lay the sign down, she said she would do it for them.
"Newfoundland and Labrador is known for a lot of great things and even in the political circle, we care about each other and you make friendships in this circle and I know that without a doubt, Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Simms would do the same for me."
It's not the first time, Menchenton has seen election signs tampered with, adding she has noticed her opponents' signs thrown in the woods, written on and turned around.
"It makes me angry. I know politics is hard," she said.
"You don't take it out on private property."