Signs Damaged In Center Cass Tax Campaign

DARIEN, IL – A look at social media in Darien and Downers Grove shows the debate over a tax increase in Center Cass School District 66 is getting heated.

Each side is accusing the other of deception, a common charge in politics.

Another election season ritual – the theft and damage of campaign signs.

Yard signs are popping up on both sides of the tax debate, with the election on Nov. 8.

On Thursday, Patch asked Darien police for all reports of sign damage and thefts since Oct. 1.

Shortly after, Darien police provided one report of such a crime: Earlier Thursday, a resident on Manning Road reported that two signs along a fence were damaged.

A number of tax hike opponents sent Patch photos of the damaged signs. A week earlier, the opponents said many of their signs were stolen. But that apparently happened outside Darien's jurisdiction.

In the 2020 election, Hinsdale police reported many campaign signs being destroyed or stolen. But they did not indicate which campaigns were targeted.

That resulted in online speculation, with Republicans accusing Democrats as being the culprits and vice versa.

Patch filed a public records request, and it turned out the criminality was bipartisan.

Of the 12 signs targeted, 10 involved the presidential race — seven for Democrat Joe Biden and three for Republican Donald Trump. All were stolen.

Also, two signs for Jeanne Ives, the Republican in the 6th District congressional race, were spray-painted. She was running against Democratic incumbent Sean Casten.

In partisan terms, seven Democratic and five Republican signs were targeted.