SAN LUIS VALLEY — “I’ve been with the Democratic Party for 18 years, and I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this.” That was part of a statement made by a spokesman for the Alamosa Democratic Party in response to numerous reports of Harris/Walz yard signs being vandalized or stolen off people’s private property. 

The spokesperson requested not to be named out of concern for additional incidents. 

The Alamosa Republican Party has reported similar acts of vandalism.  

Yard signs and large 8 foot by 4 foot barn signs in support of the Harris/Walz presidential ticket were recently distributed by the Alamosa County Democrats. It wasn’t long before party headquarters started getting calls regarding sign vandalism from people in Del Norte, east Alamosa and locations in Alamosa neighborhoods.  

“This is out of control,” the spokesman said. 

The Valley Courier was given contact information for a list of people who had reported problems but only a few agreed to speak on the condition that neither their names nor where they live be used. 

The stories they told are largely the same.   

One woman who lives near Del Norte with frontage property along a well-traveled highway had agreed to let a “politically minded friend” post a Harris/Walz sign on her land. “It didn’t last three days before it was stolen,” she says. 

Linda, who lives east of Alamosa along Highway 160, had erected one of the larger signs in her field. “I was out walking my dogs, and I noticed the sign had been torn down and slashed apart. We had only one political sign, and it lasted just over a week before it was destroyed. This is the first time that we’ve had political signs damaged.” 

The individual(s) who destroyed the sign had to go to some effort, including going on private property.  

“The sign was near the highway in our field,” she said. “We have a small, family-owned business on our property, as well. The vandals would have had to enter a nearby gate to get to it.” 

Reactions among people are largely the same.  

“I was angry,” Linda said. “I believe in the Constitutional right to freedom of expression. I also feel vulnerable because someone came into my property and destroyed something that belonged to me.” 

When asked what she would like to say to the person(s) who vandalized the sign, Linda said, “I don’t think that I would choose to engage with whoever would do something like this. I would be apprehensive about any interaction with someone who felt emboldened to commit trespassing and property damage. Of course, I know this country is deeply divided. Obviously, I have political opinions, but I would never interfere with anyone’s ability to express their own beliefs. I am very frustrated that this happened.” 

 “The biggest issues for me are the disregard for private property, and the suppression of freedom of speech,” said the resident of Del Norte. “Should we continue to post political signs in the future on my property, they will be accompanied by game cams.” 

Cheryl O’Dowd, chair of the Alamosa Republican Party, told the Courier that she had heard similar reports from members of her party but did not have any specifics.  

SIGNS BEING DESTROYED ON ‘BOTH SIDES’ 

“Yes, indeed we have had vandalism on Trump/Vance signs and Carol Riggenbach,” O’Dowd wrote in an email. “I’m not sure about Cleave Simpson but definitely both Trump and Vance and Carol Riggenbach have had vandalism. 

“It is really concerning to see that there are political signs being destroyed on both sides, Democrat signs and Republican signs,” O’Dowd added. “This is a violation of our first amendment, and I really wish that all people in our community, Valley, state and country would respect other people’s opportunity to share who they believe in without destroying our fundamental rights as American citizens.”    

“The Alamosa Democratic Party is disappointed and upset that signs are being vandalized or stolen,” read a statement from the Democratic spokesman. “We repeatedly take down literature posted on our sandwich board and actually inside the Democratic office. We’ve stressed to not retaliate and leave the other side alone. It’s a sad state of affairs. We can obviously have our differences, but we should settle those at the ballot box.” 

When asked to comment, Alamosa Police Chief George Dingfelder said, “If this is reported to [APD], we’ll investigate it like any other theft or trespass. This is a suppression of free speech, and the rhetoric has to stop. It's ridiculous. People can express their opinion when they vote.” 

Shortly before going to press, Linda in east Alamosa wrote to say that she and her husband had put up another sign in their field. The next morning it was slashed in half and thrown on the ground. 

The presidential election is Nov. 5.