ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Someone could be tampering with an Orange County race for judge after one candidate said he's noticed his signs being stolen when other political candidates' signs went untouched.
Candidate Adam McGinnis told WFTV's George Spencer he's lost more than 500 signs and actually had video of one theft where the signs of other political candidates went untouched.
On Monday night, the video shows two men stealing McGinnis' campaign signs at a law office.
He said what surprises him is they left behind a whole row of election signs for other candidates.
"It makes me think that my signs are being targeted. There's no question about it," said McGinnis.
He is running against incumbent Antoinette Plogstedt.
On Thursday, her campaign strongly denied any role, saying it coaches volunteers against such antics.
But McGinnis said in the video the thief seems to have other "McGinnis for Judge" signs already under his arm.
McGinnis said countywide, he's lost far more of his 2,000 signs than other candidates, and he's lost them more frequently.
"We're estimating between 500 and 1,000 signs," he said.
Individually, the signs aren't too expensive. They are about 50 cents for the stake and about $2.50 for the sign itself. But when a lot of them are stolen at the same time, the costs add up.
The latest available records show McGinnis, an Orlando attorney, raised only about a quarter of the $200,000 that Plogstedt had in her campaign coffers.
Her campaign said sometimes, candidates actually steal their own signs to get attention.
McGinnis said that didn't happen.
"When you see four different candidates and you see two individuals walk with an armful of my signs and pick up only my signs and leave the other signs, clearly, I'm being targeted," he said.
The Sheriff's Office told WFTV there's no special charge for stealing campaign signs.
McGinnis filed a police report, and if those people are found, they'd be charged with theft, just like if they stole a bike out of a front yard.
It's not unusual for at least a few campaign signs to be stolen during election season.
WFTV
