Candidate Reports State Rep Campaign Sign Damage In Vernon, Willington

VERNON, CT — A candidate for the Connecticut House of Representatives is claiming foul play after what she says are incidents of damage regarding large campaign signs in Vernon and Willington.

Ann Bonney called the Sunday incidents outright examples of "vandalism." She said smaller signs have been stolen.

For the 53rd District Seat, Bonney, a Democrat who is also appearing on the November ballot along the Working Families Party line, is squaring off against Republican incumbent Tammy Nuccio, who is also being endorsed by the Independent Party.

Bonney sent Patch examples of a defaced sign near the historic keystone tunnel in Vernon and one in Willington that seems to have been bashed to the ground.

She filed a police report in Vernon.

The Willington sign on Ruby Road was damaged a few weeks ago and it was discovered by local party officials, who thought an "old pickup truck" hit it.

On Sunday morning, texts and calls began pouring in about the Tunnel Road sign in Vernon, she said. Several more signs in the Valley Falls area all the way down to Bolton Lake were either taken or damaged, she said.

"I'm just very disappointed. Honestly. I feel it's people who prefer to be negative and they have permission from their national leader," she said.

Most people have been "kind and polite" on the campaign trail, she said.

The report reads:

"Vernon Police responded to a criminal mischief complaint of a political campaign sign in Vernon on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. Vernon Police responded to the area of Tunnel Road for a report of a political campaign sign that had been vandalized by spray paint. There have also been reports of political signs being removed from the ground and some have been stolen.
This case remains under investigation and no charges have been filed at this time. Anyone with
information is asked to contact Officer Greg Webster at 860-872-9126."

The vandalism in both locations included "Trump" being spray painted on the signs, according to the images.

Nuccio said campaign sign damage is uncalled for.

"As the sitting State Representative for the 53rd District, I absolutely do not condone the destruction of someone else's property, whether it's poltical or otherwise," she said. "My signs have been similarly defaced/destroyed/stolen in the past. I always tell people, one of the first lessons I learned growing up was 'don't touch other people's stuff.' You don't have to agree with someone else's opinion, but they're just as entitled to have it as you are. Please, just leave people's property alone."