Two Democratic nominees on the Nov. 3 ballot said large campaign signs supporting them were torn down overnight Oct. 30 on private property in Fort Mill, and one of them said signs were also removed elsewhere in York and Lancaster counties.
Mallory Dittmer, the Democratic nominee for South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District, and Heather Hart, the Democratic nominee for S.C. House District 66, responded to the incident in a joint statement released Oct. 31. The signs, measuring 4 feet by 8 feet, were damaged and pulled from a supporter’s property, according to the statement.
“Vandalism, intimidation, and the destruction of property have no place in our elections or our community,” Dittmer said. “Too many people have let rabid partisanship replace common decency.”
Reports filed with law enforcement
The homeowner filed a police report Oct. 31 describing the damage to both the Dittmer and Hart signs, according to the campaigns.
The Dittmer campaign said it had already filed a report with the York County Sheriff’s Office earlier in the week after one sign was stolen and another damaged in Rock Hill. The campaign said it has told the Sheriff’s Office it will add to that report in the coming days.
Dittmer said her campaign spent much of Halloween responding to supporters who reported signs torn down in both counties.
“It appears this may have been a coordinated effort last night and we will do everything we can to hold these criminals accountable,” Dittmer said.
Hart said the vandalism would not change her campaign’s approach.
“We choose to respond to hostility with decency, and division with unity,” Hart said. “Fort Mill and Tega Cay want a community rooted in love, not hate.”
Election Day is Tuesday
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voters can find their polling place and sample ballot at scvotes.gov.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
