Archive: Opinions

Like most of the people I have talked to, including both candidates, I am outraged by the theft and destruction of Town Clerk campaign yard signs this week.  But more than that I am baffled.  Really stumped.  Of all the campaigns to get riled enough to commit misdemeanors over, Town Clerk?  Really?  That's the campaign someone thinks is worth committing theft and vandalism over?

Let's face it.  The Town Clerk position is a very important one in the running of a municipality.  But it is not a political office in terms of making law or policy.  It is a fairly nuts and bolts, just get the job done with a smile kind of position.  The clerk issues licenses, keeps records, files reports, posts legal notices, and acts as the clerk of the Town Board, on which she or he has no vote, but simply records and distributes the minutes.

It is true that some town clerks have made the news, for example, for refusing to issues marriage licenses to non-traditional couples.  I knew someone many years ago who was refused her right to register to vote because she had not taken her husband's name (she successfully challenged the clerk in that municipality, who was forced to register her after all).  I haven't interviewed the Lansing candidates for this election yet, but I haven't heard of any incident in which either of them refused to issue legal licenses.  I suppose that people might object to a clerk who is not helpful or friendly, but, again, I am not seeing how that applies in this election.  Or why it would motivate this level of response during the campaign.

I get upset when someone tells me their mailbox has been smashed, so I guess I'm an easy mark for this kind of upset.  But this particular theft and vandalism is clearly targeted.  I know of at least one confirmed case where several political signs were in one yard, but only the Clerk sign was stolen.  So it is not a random act of stealing political signs.  It is targeted to specific ones.  That is different from smashing a mailbox.  It is a willful act of political sabotage that should not be countenanced by the candidates or the community.

I spoke to both candidates about these incidents this week.  Each one was clear that she had no knowledge of or participation in these crimes.  Each said she did not approve of stealing or damaging political signs no matter whose they are.

The Tompkins County Sheriff's Department has been very effective in ferreting out criminals who have damaged town or park property.  While I have no idea how to figure out who stole and damaged the campaign signs, I have some faith that the Sheriff's Department will be able to.  All power to them.  Whoever did this should be punished to the full extent of the law.

In a year when we are faced with untenable choices for President, we certainly don't need this level of political vitriol in a local Town Clerk race.  It is uncalled for, uncivilized, unlawful subversion of free speech and ethics, and way out of proportion to the issues involving citizens' experience and dealings with the Town of Lansing, whoever wins in November.

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