KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Voters will narrow down the candidates for Kansas City, Missouri, City Council next Tuesday, but some candidates lament pre-election sabotage.
Across the third district, campaign signs have been disappearing.
Joseph "Joey Cuts" Thomas, a barber and entrepreneur, is running for the in-district seat.
"The time is right," he said. "The time is right to stand up, do something, take a stand."
The time also has been right to put up signs all over the district, including at the corner of 18th Street and Benton Boulevard, where Thomas got permission from Golden Gate Funeral and Cremation Services before placing the signs on Saturday.
By Sunday morning, "All of our signs were gone," Thomas said. "They were gone. Some of them were thrown down the street."
The funeral home's security cameras captured the culprit, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt that covered his face. The footage shows him pull the signs from the ground, eventually dropping one and kicking it down the sidewalk.
"Why, you know, why?" Thomas said.
One of his opponents has a theory on why it's happening.
"Unfortunately, it's political silly season," said Joseph Jackson, a two-term school board member who is now running for City Council.
Thomas and Jackson are not alone.
After reaching out to the other candidates in the race, 41 Action News learned Pat Clarke, Rachel Riley and Shakeer Akhtab also have had signs go missing
"These signs cost way too much money," Clarke, a community activist, said. "Nobody on my team is doing it."
Riley, who is the president of the East 23rd Street Neighborhood Organization, said it's become irritating.
"It's frustrating because a lot of money goes into those signs," he said.
Melissa Robinson, a school board member who's also in the race, condemned the sign stealing.
"It takes a lot of effort to run for office, so it's unfortunate this is happening," she said.
The bandit also targeted the third district at-large seat, for which State Rep. Brandon Ellington is running. His signs also were swiped from the corner of 18th Street and Benton Boulevard.
Ellington's opponent, Rev. Wallace Hartsfield II, called the situation "unfortunate."
"I really wish it would stop," he said.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, Thomas hopes the sign bandit, whoever it may be, takes the high road.
"Let's all just have a little respect," Thomas said. "Let's have a little class about what we're doing. Let's enjoy this, but let's also set the standard and the example Kansas City needs."
