Candidates: Campaign Lawn Signs Stolen, Damaged

The Haverford Township Police Department is investigating campaign lawn signs that candidates are saying have either been damaged or stolen from supporters’ front yards.

First ward commissioner Steven D’Emilio stated that an estimated 50 of his campaign lawn signs have been stolen from supporters’ yards.

“No idea (who would want to steal or damage a sign), but I do think it is someone that wants to sway the election. Signs cost money and many 1st ward residents contributed to my campaign. I used that funding to buy signs,” D’Emilio wrote in an April 27 email to the Haverford-Havertown Patch. He stated that it cost $3 per sign.

“We found signs in the street, bent and Judge Burke’s sign ripped up. One was ripped up on my lawn,” the vice president of the township commissioners also wrote.

D’Emilio is facing Jon Tancredi, both Republicans, for the first ward seat in the May 17 primary election race. Tom Shiffer, a former 1st ward commissioner, is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Approximately 225 signs have been stolen and an estimated $800 worth of damages is what incumbent Judge Robert Burke claims to have happened of his signs as of April 27 when he answered emailed questions from Patch. 

“I have never experienced this much destruction in past elections. I am not sure who is doing this or why,” he wrote.

His opponent, Philip Lozano a Philadelphia attorney, stated that he did not want to give an estimate of how many signs have been stolen or damaged because, “it leads to exaggeration and hyperbole.” But he did write in an April 27 email to Patch that his signs cost approximately $4.

“I have no idea. I am not overly concerned,” he answered when asked if he had any idea who would steal or damage his campaign signs. “I don't think that the residents of Haverford Township are all that concerned about lawn signs.  Frankly, I think most residents find them irritating, and they are not going to vote based on lawn signs.”

Burke also felt that the campaign lawn sign issue would not distract voters.

“I don't think this will distract the voters from the message I am trying to get across. Most residents know that I have been committed to this community for a long time,” he wrote.

Lozano and Burke, both of Havertown, are running for the judge’s position at district court 32-1-25. Each of them registered as both Republican and Democrat in the primary race.