Missing Signs Have Supervisor Candidate Crying Foul

Missing and defaced signs for Robert Creighton's run for Smithtown Supervisor have his campaign pointing fingers at the opposition.

Scott Santamaria campaign manager for Creighton, said he is not exactly sure how many have been taken or defaced but said they receive calls daily from residents who say the signs have been taken from the lawns and yards.

A sign being removed from the lawn of law firm of Marotta & Kristiansen, which is located across the street from town hall, was caught on videotape by a camera on the law firm’s property.

“We expect it to happen,” said Santamaria. “It is kind of the cost of doing business.  We have instructed all of our volunteers not to take any of our opponents signs down. We can’t control Mr. Vecchio’s supporters.”

Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio called missing signs "par for the course", adding that three of his signs have gone missing as well.

"Three lawn signs were all taken, I don’t use the word stolen," he said. "The three that I heard about were on the corner of Indian Head Road and Jericho Turnpike. I think maybe Monday (they went missing) I was told, and I didn’t act like crybaby about it either. Someone is not going to like a candidate and they just do it."

Santamaria and Creighton both said there are no plans to file police reports on the missing and damaged signs.

"I think the police have better things to do," said Creighton. "Unfortunately this is just part of the game. It is petty and they shouldn’t be doing it. I am disappointed in my opponent."

Vecchio said doesn't believe fingers should be pointed without knowing who did it.

"I would never ever do that to anyone or any campaign unless I had definitive knowledge. That’s the end of it," said Vecchio.