Wife of (democratic)state representative caught taking down (Bush)political signs

9news (Colorado) ^ | 10/26/2004 6:29 PM MDT | Paula Woodward

[ironwill]

COLORADO SPRINGS - There have been countless reports of sign stealing during this election campaign from both Republicans and Democrats. A private investigator hired to track down the person responsible for taking Republican campaign signs in one Colorado Springs neighborhood caught the culprit on tape and made a surprising discovery.

The woman caught taking down Bush/Cheney and Pete Coors signs turned out the be the wife of the only Democratic state representative from El Paso County. Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs, confirms that it was his wife who was caught taking the signs.

Merrifield said the signs were placed near his home to harass him. He indicated he would have taken the signs himself, but he was confined to his house for health reasons. He also admitted removing Kent Lambert signs, Merrifield's opponent in the state house race.

State Republican Chair Ted Halaby said Merrifield should step down. The district attorney said she doesn't plan to pursue the matter.

[ironwill]

Nut jobs.

[Enterprise]

"The district attorney said she doesn't plan to pursue the matter."

Sounds good to me. Now about 20.000 Republicans need to fan out and take down Kerry/Edwards signs.

[bahblahbah]

1st amendment???

Bush gets called a nazi and this putz can't take a few signs.

[beckysueb]

Funny they always have to add Republicans do it ,too, if a Dimorat is caught breaking the law.

[Lijahsbubbe]

The Dims did the same in Minnesota with campaign literature. Losers.

[FreeAtlanta]

you have a good point.

[Stopislamnow]

heheh, local radio guy Dr Joe Micklaceski(sp) has been all over this the last 2 days.

Merrifield, the dem whose wife got caught, blew a load on the radio yesterday, funny as hell, told Dr Joe, after Joe asked some hard questions, that Joe has gone to the dark side.

Quite hilarious.

I just wonder if the beeeyotch is the same one who stole my Bush/Cheney sign...

[MissouriConservative]

"He indicated he would have taken the signs himself"

So, in other words, he would have destroyed private property and trespassed?

This from an elected representative?

[beckysueb]

Did it here in Tennessee, too.The guy got caught and had to do public service work and make a donation to the Republican Party. He was a "rat, too. Bet that had to hurt, giving money to the Republicans. LOL

[Soul Seeker]

ROFL!!

The wife of an elected Dem stealing B&C signs? Tsk. Only thing better would be to catch Kerry in the act. He's probably send a butler to do it, though.

[IStillBelieve]

The district attorney said she doesn't plan to pursue the matter.

But this is trespassing. Doesn't the law apply to Democrats?

[kingu]

The local district attorney might not be interested in taking the case to court, but it doesn't mean that those who lost their signs can't use her comments as evidence in small claims court.

If they were particularly smart and spaced out the suits over a period of six to eight months, this will stay in the news for quite some time. Judges hate people who take political signs (especially their signs..)

[beckysueb]

The district attorney is probably a 'rat, too.

[Anti-Bubba182]

That gets me for dumbness! Tear down your opponent's signs, get caught, and give that same opponent massively more positive publicity than the signs you tore down ever could.

[Lijahsbubbe]

make a donation to the Republican Party

LOL. I like it!

[pawdoggie]

The district attorney said she doesn't plan to pursue the matter. But this is trespassing. Doesn't the law apply to Democrats?

The DA is either a 'Rat herself, or she's one of those scared of her own shadow RINOs.

[kingu]

He also admitted removing Kent Lambert signs, Merrifield's opponent in the state house race.

This state Representative has admitted to taking down someone's signs himself. So it is an interesting question that should be put forward to the state house ethics committee, if there is one, and if he is reelected.

[LibertarianInExile]

Yep. I can't see how the state's attorney could prosecute any Republicans now. Not a good move on their part.

[Route66]

" But this is trespassing. Doesn't the law apply to Democrats?"
...............................
Nope.

[beckysueb]

When that guy got caught here in TN. the chairman of the dim party thought we were making a big deal out of nothing. But our Repub party chair insisted on prosecuting. Good for him.