Commissioner Blasts Targeting Of Abington Candidate's Supporters

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A township commissioner is speaking out about a GOP candidate's supporters being targeted one week before the Nov. 4 general election.

Abington Police are investigating several incidents over the weekend of screws being left on the driveways of residents displaying political signs supporting Maria DellaMonica, who is running as a Republican for the Ward 6 commissioner seat.

"To know that a candidate for commissioner in Ardsley-North Hills is having her signs targeted in a hateful and aggressive way right now breaks my heart and enrages me," Ward 13 Commissioner Bill Bole said. "Her political opponent has already come out strongly and vehemently against the actions."

Bole said that when he ran for commissioner six years ago, it was "immediately strange" to see his lawn signs all over the neighborhood.

While Bole said he was touched to see people supporting his candidacy getting behind my candidacy, he also understood that his political signs "created a vulnerability and exposure" that Bole said he didn't have to experience before throwing his hat in the ring.

Bole said that any political violence makes all candidates and office holders more vulnerable and exposed.

"She (DellaMonica) doesn't deserve it — No one does," Bole, a Democrat, said. "The actions themselves are awful, and it is being made all the more so by the reactions of some, pointing on social media to 'typical behavior of that political party.' Let's hope the people behind these hateful actions are found and brought to justice. And I hope that we can all take a breath and stop globalizing actions of individual jackasses as a way to further entrench ourselves in our respective corners. Good luck to all candidates in the upcoming election, and thank you for being an active citizen in our fragile Republic."