Campaign sign vandalized
Councillor Linda Bussey's name changed to be spelled with a 'P'
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One city councillor said she was angry to learn one of her campaign signs was vandalized on Monday morning.
Someone used pink tape to replace the 'B' in Coun. Linda Bussey's name to a 'P' on her sign near the intersection of Old Airport Road and Franklin Avenue sometime Sunday night or Monday morning the councillor said.
Coun. Linda Bussey said she was angry when she was told Monday morning that one of her campaign signs was vandalized with pink tape. As soon as she heard of the vandalism, she removed the sign. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo |
"I was angry," said Bussey, while giggling about the new spelling over the phone on Monday morning.
Bussey said the change was reported to her Monday and the sign was taken down and fixed.
Bussey said her signs went up on Saturday and she hasn't reported the vandalism to the RCMP.
"They tried to be funny. So for a couple of hours it said Vote for Linda … well, you figure it out now."
She said she is glad the vandals used tape instead of paint, but she's still upset they chose to attack her campaign signage.
"If you have an issue with me, call me, don't attack my sign," said Bussey. "Those things aren't cheap to make."
The unknown vandal or vandals also put an accent over the "E" in her name, as a reference to her being Francophone.
"But the 'Y' was still there, so it didn't work," she said.
Other councillors weigh in
Coun. Cory Vanthuyne, who is stepping away from municipal politics to run for Yellowknife North MLA, said city councillors' signs are attacked every election.
"It happens on a regular basis, it's a sad part of the democratic process," he said.
Vanthuyne – who is coming to the end of his second term on council – said all kinds of foreign marks have found their way onto his campaign signs over the years.
"Different kinds of markings on the eyebrows, and on the face, and mustaches (were applied), and all of that kind of stuff.
"There was one year where it seemed like anybody who had their face on a sign, somebody went around with black marker and did all kinds of stuff to a bunch of them, it wasn't just me."
Vanthuyne said since Bussey is the first councillor to post campaign signs this year, her name is in the spotlight.
Coun. Dan Wong, who is also getting out of the municipal game to run for that Yellowknife North MLA seat, said he's heard of signage being attacked before, and that female candidates seem to take the brunt of the abuse.
"Female candidates, they not only get hit with vandalism more often … and in ways it's much more offensive than when they go after the male candidates," he said.
"It's sad the way things are, but the female candidates, they get targeted more often."
Wong said the attack on Bussey's sign amounts to sexual harassment, and that he called Bussey and advised her to call the RCMP. Const. Elenore Sturko, spokesperson for the RCMP, said damaging property can get you charged with mischief – which could mean a $2,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
