Negative Campaign Signs Target Incumbent

Ward 4 Alderman candidate spotted about two dozen spray-painted signs advocating against her in Yorkville on Saturday morning.

Many were removed by Saturday afternoon, but Spears was concerned after at least one property owner indicated they did not give anyone permission to place such a sign on the property.

Yorkville Police Chief Richard Hart said police took an informational report from Spears but likely would do no follow up investigation.

“Political signs are free speech, but like anything else, you have to have permission to go on other people’s property,” Hart said.

Both Spears and her opponent, , said they didn’t know who had created or put up the signs. Michalisko had been on vacation through late Friday, but said he had not suggested or encouraged others to do anything like that.

“I don’t support that,” Michalisko said, adding he would be upset if something like that had happened to him.

Spears said she and her daughter saw signs in the Autumn Creek subdivison, near Raging Waves waterpark, and near the intersections of Bristol Ridge Road and Route 34, Kennedy and Bristol Ridge roads, and Countryside and Center parkways. She said the signs appeared to be old campaign signs that had been turned inside out.

She characterized it as an example of dirty politics during an election cycle that had been particularly dirty.

“I’m sure they are totally trying to get people against me,” Spears said.

She thought the tactic could be backfiring, though.

"They are upsetting the community by doing this," she said.