Consider the Journal front page article this last Friday on the “theft” of signs. First, no one knows if the signs were actually “stolen”; rather than vandalized, prematurely recycled, blown away. But the strong inference is that they were stolen–when there is no such proof of that.

In fairness to Mr Pilch, in the Albany Today article he mentions that he doesn’t know if the signs were taken down by the property owner, for example. But that nuance does not make it into the Journal article.

Inside, the Journal endorses the slate of Thomsen, Farandel, and Pilch. That leaves only the other three candidates as the culprits, if in fact the signs were stolen–which is only one of many possibilities.

Maybe there should be a retraction to clear the air and set the record straight.

I don’t believe I nor Ms. Thomsen mentioned that any one candidate’s campaign could be involved in the possilbe theft of election material.

In fact I believe in the article Ms. Thomsen states that she sent a email to ALL the candidates asking them to rein in their more rambunctious supporters.

I only brought up Mr. Lieber’s statement in the article because of his infurence that Ms. Thomsen was lying about the possible theft.

I would hate to see any candidate or organization have their signs or campaign materials stolen or defaced. I agree it does take away from the true substance of this election.

I hope whether we agree or disagree with one another that we can at least have some level of decorum as citizens in this election, if not, then we have already lost.

On a sign on Dartmouth I noticed this weekend that someone has drawn a black moustache on Ms Thomsen’s face.

Quick. Blame the Lieber campaign, which undoubtedly has at least one black magic marker in their possession.

I suppose it’s not out of the realm of possiblity that these gale force winds may have plucked up these signs and placed them neatly in an enclosed recycling bin or that roving bands vandals are targeting just Thomsen and Pilch signs.

As for Ms. Thomsen jumping to conclusions, I’m sure Mr. Dann knows very well that this is not the first time that election materials have gone missing in our little burg.

I agree with Mr. Dann on one point though, a voter should ask if quickness to blame others IS a quality that speaks well of a candidacy, and Mr. Lieber stated in the article that he suspected the issue was made up by Ms. Thomsen as a campaign strategy.

Now that’s jumping to a big conclusion isn’t it?

Isn’t it a giant leap to conclude that the signs were stolen by the opposition, when there is in fact no such evidence? Couldn’t vandals just as likely have knocked them over? Or a aluminum can recycler have jumped the gun and picked them up before their time?

IMHO, Ms Thomsen is jumping to conclusions. In these troubled times, a voter should ask if quickness to blame others is a quality that speaks well of a candidacy .

Is it possible that Peggy Thomsen, who has served 8 years on city council, 2 years as mayor, 17 years on the Albany Board of Education four as President, has served not only on countless city committees but also county and state committees. Is it possible that Peggy absconded with her own signs, reporting to the Albany Police Department, thus commiting a misdemeanor under California Penal Code section 148.5 (a) filing a false police report? Is it possible that this devised in the War Room of the Thomsen Campaign HQ?

PROBABLY NOT! What is more likely, like Peggy states, is some rambunctious campaign supporters got a little out of hand.

I can’t help but think that if there were Lieber signs disappearing the Mayor might be a little more concerned.