Hundreds of campaign signs for school bond referendum pulled

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of campaign signs are being pulled from yards, businesses and polling locations in Iredell County.
 
The signs being taken aren't even for a particular candidate. Signs for and against the school bond referendum are disappearing.
 
"It's disheartening.  As soon as I put them up, they are disappearing," said Statesville resident Mark Cash.
 
Cash said more than a hundred of his "It's OK to vote no" signs have been pulled all from the county. Officials said the signs reading "Vote yes for our school bonds" are being pulled too.

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Officials don't know who's behind it but say it is punishable by law -- a class three misdemeanor.
 
"It is against the law but it's just disrespectful to these people who have put in their hard-earned money," said Becky Galliher, director of the Iredell County Board of Elections.
 
Channel 9 was told the signs have been pulled from yards, businesses and two early voting locations. One of the polling sites is at the Statesville Board of Elections office, which is across the street from the Sheriff's Office.
  
"This is a first for us. We've never had any removed from an early voting site," Galliher said.
 
Officials said the signs message could be a target for thieves. The topic is so controversial because the $131.5 million proposal for school upgrades would raise property taxes by nearly 9 percent.
 
County Commissioner Ken Robertson said the bond referendum is critical. With more families and businesses moving to Iredell, he said school renovations and upgrades will either have to be paid for now or later.
 
"We can kick the can down the road for somebody else to have to deal with or we can deal with it right now," Robertson said.
 
While the issue is up to voters, all local law enforcement agencies have been notified and will be on the lookout for thieves Monday night.
 
Officials said they can only charge those caught in the act. If convicted. A class three misdemeanor is punishable by up to two years in prison.

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