Attorney Eddie Unsell of East Alton says election signs supporting Tom Haine’s campaign for Madison County State’s Attorney have been stolen and vandalized outside his office.
Unsell said he previously had about six small signs stolen from the property located on Ninth Street in East Alton. In response, he put out two large signs.
He said that because the large signs are too big to be easily stolen, vandals defaced the signs instead.
In response, Haine said that while the damage could be people "being dumb," he would strive as State's Attorney to make sure property damage is not justified in Madison County.
"This could be kids being dumb, or it could be adults being dumb. Who knows," Haine said. "Either way, in 2020 we have seen too much property damage justified by a certain kind of politics. Graffiti is the kind of thing that makes people feel like their neighborhood is not a place of safety or security. Madison County shouldn't start down that road, and as State's Attorney, I'll do whatever I can to make sure we don't."
Haine is running on the Republican ticket for State’s Attorney against Democrat Chrystal Uhe in the November General Election.
Uhe decries the vandalism and urges people to voice their political beliefs by voting.
"The criminal destruction of someone else's property is never appropriate," Uhe said. "Every year around election time we see theft and vandalism of political signs. This behavior is not to be condoned. My campaign has similarly seen our political signs stolen from the property of our supporters. I encourage everyone to voice their political beliefs and opposition at the ballot box and not through these types of behaviors."
Haine previously served as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He also served four years as an active duty Army captain.
Haine graduated from Princeton University and Washington University School of Law. He also taught law at the U.S. Naval Academy in 2015-16.
Uhe currently serves as the First Assistant State’s Attorney and Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Uhe graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and Saint Louis University School of Law.