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 More than 100 election signs were spraypainted by vandals with symbols depicting crosshairs of a gun over Ryan Keon's face, homophobic comments and course language. (DOUG HEMPSTEAD/QMI AGENCY) |
OTTAWA - More than 100 election signs were spraypainted by vandals with symbols depicting crosshairs of a gun over his face, homophobic comments and course language.
And Ryan Keon's campaign team have reported the vandalism to Ottawa Police for investigation.
More than 100 public signs of the Nepean-Carleton Liberal candidate were tagged sometime overnight Friday, according to the team.
They say it appears it's an organized case of vandalism against him.
The campaign team says the most chilling image -- which resembles the crosshairs of a gun scope aimed at his face -- was sprayed on the signs using black spray paint.
Keon and his wife have two young children and are concerned about the intended message, not only of the targets, but also the homophobic and coarse, offensive language.
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"Regardless of how serious or stupid their intentions might be," he said, "it's obviously an attempt by somebody who doesn't want me to succeed, to intimidate me. It won't work. This really is a direct attack on our democracy."
Some of the signs call him a tree hugger.
"I didn't think we lived in the kind of place where people would use these kind of tactics to oppose me in my attempt to provide the people of my riding with a viable option," he said.
His campaign workers were equally shocked by the vandalism.
"It's the same thing that Sarah Palin ran on her website that she was admonished for," said Al Toulin.
"And then the congresswoman in Arizona was shot just after that, so that's why we're worried."
Toulin said people are phoning in from across the riding saying signs have been defaced.
"We have no evidence of who it is, but he's got kids and a wife and so it's very disturbing."
Toulin said there's always some sign damage in every election campaign, but this is the first time he has seen such an organized effort.
"It's something you don't want your children to see."
Ottawa Police said they were not aware of a report being written and couldn't comment on the investigation.