Minot’s mayoral candidates are speaking out against displays of vandalism that have been marring a campaign now in the homestretch.

Candidate Josiah Roise said one homeowner who displayed his signs and vehicle stickers had a chemical agent applied to their yard, killing all the grass. Another supporter found zip ties cut and posts pulled on a large campaign sign, with other yard signs pulled up and strewn about and rocks thrown through the window of their RV camper parked nearby. A number of other supporters reported signs stolen or destroyed on site all across town, he said.

“It’s to the point that my supporters are actually in the closet now,” Roise said, noting signs are being ripped away not just from the edge of properties but from the front doors of homes.

“Out of fear, they’re taking my stickers off the back windows of their vehicles, off their bumpers,” he said. “My supporters have already told me ‘I’m still supporting you. I’m still voting for you, but I can’t have your sign in my yard.'”

Candidate Rob Fuller said he has had a number of supporters tell him their yard signs have been taken down, cut or ripped out of the ground and crumpled up.

“Honestly, taking down political signs doesn’t hurt a campaign. It just shows immaturity,” Fuller said. “If someone disagrees with a candidate, they should make their case with facts and ideas, not by sneaking around and pulling signs like a middle school prank. These signs were paid for with donations from real people who want their voices heard. How would the ones tearing them down feel if someone tried to silence their voice the same way? It’s juvenile, it’s petty, and frankly, it says more about them than it ever says about the candidate they are trying to hurt.”

Candidate Paul Pitner reported similar issues with his campaign signs.

“Unfortunately, I have had election signs destroyed and simply stolen in the middle of the night from private properties. I just pray that my 9-year old daughter/campaign manager does not find those responsible because she is very upset over that,” Pitner said.

Candidate and acting mayor Mark Jantzer said he has not received reports of damage to signs or other property, although a couple of supporters said their signs were stolen or removed, so they were provided with replacements.

“One of my large signs on a friend’s lot just north of Arrowhead Shopping Center was knocked down in a way which I took to be vandalism, so I replaced the posts to fix it. I also have had emails via the city website reporting that one candidate in particular was placing signs in public right of way and on private property without permission. It is best when everyone takes the time to know the rules for election signs in our city ordinance and abides by them and, of course, damaging a candidate’s signs or damaging a supporter’s property is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Incidents typically are not being reported to law enforcement. As of earlier this week, the only calls received by the Minot Police Department related to placement of signs, according to the department.

Roise questions whether some of the backlash toward his campaign is incited by false information widely circulating that he wants to eliminate age of consent laws. He said he does not support revising the law, nor has he ever mentioned the law in discussing his proposals if elected mayor.

“Whoever is doing this, I would call them cowards,” Roise said of the vandalism. “If they have a problem with me as a candidate or my platform, they should confront me directly, contact me by phone or email or come have a conversation and be civil. They’re making a horrible example of themselves and maybe even of my opposition that they support.”