ON THIS PAGE:
INTRO: This page added because...
Our efforts to get signs out...
04-30-2009: The first day the signs were
removed, I sent an email....
05-01-2009: The second day the signs were
removed. I sent Email #2...
05-02-2009: It appears that this topic is on
the Front page ...
PICTURES: Pictures are worth a thousand
words but I still put captions with each of them.
INTRO: This page is added
because I sent a few emails out to my Campaign & Blog Email list.
The emails were about my campaign signs being stolen during early
voting and I wanted
people to be on the lookout. The topic ended up being on the
front page of of the local paper on 05-02-2009.
This is a good thing as it might get the word out that taking these
signs is no joke and it is a crime.
For about three weeks before early voting, we had many supporters
helping to meet citizens and getting them to allow us to put signs
in their yards. I prefer that my campaign signs be in the
yards of Citizens. It means so much more to me and that is why
our signs are mostly in people's yards. It was not until
Thursday before Early Voting started that we put GORENA signs in the
public right of ways in the City. I make it a point not to put
signs in the area that citizens consider it their yard without
asking for permission.
04-30-2009:
The following is the first email I sent to my Blog & Campaign email
list concerning the missing signs. I admit I was fuming angry
because we had so many people helping to put signs out all over town
and someone picked up the signs in the northern part of town in one
night. I spent several hours this afternoon replacing many of
the signs in this area. I put out about 30 or so signs to
replace most of the ones taken.
From: John Gorena
Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:04 PM
To: 'undisclosed'
Subject: Gorena Campaign - Sign Theft
I am livid…. I got a few calls that signs are missing from the yards of
Supporters. Going to replace them, I drive around town today and ALL my
campaign signs on North Valley, North Old Orchard, North Garden Ridge, some
on Fox are gone. I suspect that this happened last night or early morning
today. I spent the past few hours putting some signs out AGAIN.
I need your help… If you see anyone removing my signs, I would appreciate it
if you take a picture of them with your cell phone and then let me know. I
WILL PRESS CHARGES OF THEFT. So far there are about 35 signs that I know
were taken. That’s theft of way more than $100 – sign are not cheap! These
idiots left the wires at many of these locations where people could fall on
them if they tripped. That could kill someone. It was not the wind, everyone
else’s signs are still there. Just mine are missing.
If you see one of my signs bent or down, you have my permission to
straighten it up again. Or just call me and I will fix it. I also advise
that you do not touch another candidate’s signs. I do not want you to get in
trouble if they take a picture of you fixing a sign with the caption of
“Gorena Supporter tearing down signs”.
I spoke to Winston Edmondson (the mayoral candidate with similar views as
mine). Mr. Edmondson had his signs out long before I did. The Gorena
campaign put signs out last Friday night. Mr. Edmondson stated in an email,
“My signs are usually gone within a day or two of putting them up. It
wouldn't be so aggravating if I suspected it was the work of mischievous
kids. Unfortunately, when I have a sign that's not too far from one of Dean
Ueckert's signs, and only my sign is missing the next day, it makes me think
we're not dealing with mischief here. There's not much I can do, other than
double my efforts to speak with citizens face to face.” Mr. Edmonson and
I agree that we do not think that the other candidates are behind this
theft. Most likely it is several individuals that are just thieves and are
against our efforts to do what we feel is right.
Check your yards… if signs are missing, let me know and I will deliver
another sign. You can also pick up signs from my front porch.
AAARRRGHHHHH - I feel much better now.
--
John Gorena
05-01-2009: On
this morning, I get a few calls and Emails about signs missing. It was a
busy day with customers and later in the evening I spent a few hours putting
about 25 signs back out again. As I met a few people and RE-delivered
signs, citizens were angry about their signs taken from their yards. This
motivated a few to go door to door on their street to campaign for me. I
think the efforts by the thieves to steal the signs is back firing on them.
From: John Gorena
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 9:54 PM
To: undisclosed
Subject: FW: Gorena Campaign - Sign Theft again
OK, I do not want to appear as a whiner BUT I got a few calls and emails
today that signs were missing from the same areas as yesterday. As I went to
go deliver signs to the yards in which they were taken, I noticed that most
were taken on N. Garden Ridge, N. Valley, N. Old Orchard, Juniper, and
College Pkwy. Most of the signs I put up yesterday are missing today. I hope
that whoever is doing this gets caught. More dangerous wire stands were left
in the ground. They are being taken from yards and the home owners are angry
about it. It is inspiring them to get out there and spread the word to vote
for me (and Mr. Edmondson) even more so.
One person has a camera pointed directly at his sign – maybe we will catch a
thief in the act…
If you get me evidence... I will prosecute.
--
John Gorena
05-02-2009: There is an article on the
front page of the Lewisville Leader... I think the article is written just
fine though I really did not expect my email to be used but that is just fine with me.
I did write it. Thinking about what I said, I kind of wish I did not use
the term 'idiots'. It does describe what I was thinking but I wonder what
word I could have used that would have been better??? I would like to
clarify a few points in the article:
- I do not think that any supporter of mine would be removing my
signs. I have specifically warned my supporters in e-mails to not touch the
signs of other candidates unless given specific permission.
- It is a fact that the signs were there and then they were gone.
Just my signs as there are other candidate signs at those locations.
- Many of the locations where my signs were taken had the H-Wire stands left in the ground.
Please see the pictures below to see what I am talking about.
The article:
Click here to see the PDF version.
PICTURES: Click on small picture to enlarge
view and read caption beneath. |
