Lawmaker says campaign signs defaced
Terrill says campaign signs defaced
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193
Published: July 8, 2008
The author of Oklahoma's anti-illegal immigration law says several of his campaign signs have been defaced with the words "racist" and "bigot."
Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said Monday that dozens of his campaign signs were defaced, primarily in the
Norman area.
"It is unfortunate," Terrill said. "It is childish. It is a criminal act. And it is an affront to our electoral process."
Last year, Terrill authored House Bill 1804, legislation that cracks down on illegal immigrants in the state that was signed into law by
Gov. Brad Henry.
Earlier this year, the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups filed a lawsuit alleging that a provision of the law subjecting employers to penalties was pre-empted by federal law and is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge Robin Cauthron issued a decision on June 4 blocking implementation of a provision affecting employers that was set to go into effect July 1. Cauthron said it was likely that the challengers would prevail in their lawsuit.
Most of the strict anti-illegal immigration law took effect late last year. Among other things, it denies state benefits to illegal immigrants and subjects employers and others to a state felony crime for harboring illegals.
Terrill said the 4-foot-square campaign signs, which cost about $25, not including installation and transportation costs, are a means of communication and name identification to voters. The signs had names scrawled on them, had marks through them or were cut up, Terrill said.
He said he has not filed a police report but plans to.
Terrill said he has not had time to replace the signs, adding that the damage occurred recently.
"I don't know who is doing this, but is very likely, from all indications, someone who is opposed to the bill I offered cracking down on illegal immigration and (making) English as the official language," he said.
Terrill's bill to make English the state's official language died in the Senate earlier this year.
Terrill's signs also were defaced in the last election cycle, he said. He said he has received restitution for the signs that were defaced.
Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman
Gary Jones said vandalism to campaign signs happens but is not prevalent. Jones said he advises candidates to replace the signs and file a police report.
Jones is no stranger to shenanigans during an election. He had a campaign trailer stolen when he was running for the state auditor and inspector's post in 2006.
Terrill faces Republican
Curtis Bruehl of Norman in the July 29 primary election. Democrats
Troy Green of
Oklahoma City and
Charles Barnes of Norman also are seeking the post.
Copyright 2008
The Associated Press.
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If you're illegal, you're illegal. No bigotry about it.
Mexicans can eat my smelly cheese covered burrito as I bounce off the back of their adenoids.
The Diversity Alliance for Sustainable America www.earthtimes.org/have stated in it's article that if the U.S. grants amnesty and gives citizenship to 12 to 30 million illegal migrants, as Senators Obama and McCain propose. All those naturalized citizens could possibly add 120 million U.S. and foreign-born relatives to the U.S., in the next 20 years whom all would CONSUME MAJOR ENERGY. Only THE FEDERAL SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) offers any chance of halting this overpopulation quagmire It's enactment will give ICE and the police more enforcement powers. Join NUMBERSUSA for free and become part of a solution and not lies.
They also claim to have had these territories stolen from them? Their flag was on U.S. soil 26 years BIG DEAL!
They stole the territory from Spain who was here over 300 years (hence the Spanish names).
Yet they never will acknowledge NATIVE AMERICANS.
It was stolen Mexican land only in their eyes.
And they are taught in Mexican schools that the U.S. stole their territory and they have every right to take it back.
I have read Mexicans on message board claim that their dream is of a Mexico America.
This is why they fight so hard to call us racists and bigots.