As you may have noticed, campaign signs in Sedona and the surrounding fire district for Dick Fishel, Doug Fitzpatrick, and Ty Montgomery have been disappearing for some time. Their opponents signs have not been disturbed. Frustrated by this unethical and illegal action, the campaign team set up a camera to see if we could find out who has been taking our signs. All of our signs have had permission from the owners of the respective properties.
Clicking the link below will take you to a slide show of a sign theft in progress. The man in the pictures has been identified as Lowell Johnson, who has been a vocal critic of the SFD, and a staunch supporter of the opposing slate of Demme, Blauert, and Erick. The pictures clearly show him driving up onto private property, removing our signs, and carrying them back to his car.
This behavior only serves to further show the complete lack of any integrity, ethics, or desire to represent the residents of our district fairly by the opposing campaign. This is the epitome of low class dirty politics. It is also a crime. Tampering with a campaign sign is a class 2 misdemeanor, not to mention theft and trespassing.
We also have evidence of Mr. Johnson removing our signs in the Village of Oak Creek. Police reports are being filed with the Sedona Police Department and the Yavapai County Sherriff’s Office.
We would ask that you notify everyone you know to help us show the true colors of the opposing slate.
from Integrity Matters: Dick Fishel, Doug Fitzpatrick and Ty Montgomery
What evidence is there that Mr. Johnson is working “for” the “opposing” team? In a previous campaign illegality, the culprit was found to be working alone…
Attributing this action to “the opposing team” without providing proof is just about as low as removing or defacing signs, don’t you think? But I’ll withhold final judgment until you’ve had the opportunity to present the rest of the facts.
Mrs. Ennis,
Please look at the names on the campaign list. Mr. Johnson can be spotted at the N.Y. Bagel and Deli with these individuals on a daily basis and also at all debates. Mr. Johnson was also photographed placing this slates signs right before (removing) the others. Not really sure what other proof is needed.
http://www.co.yavapai.az.us/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=59228
http://www.co.yavapai.az.us/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=59232
Note that this comment was made a month ago and it clearly indicates Mr. Johnson’s involvement is just another indication of his attempt to undermine our democratic process. By the way, while at this meeting he sat next to his candidates who passed notes to him right before he would get up to speak and disrupt the Chief’s meeting.
“Last night, Fire District Chief Hazime hosted a “Chief’s Chat “at Station 3 in the VOC. That meeting was intended for the taxpayers to ask the Chief pertinent questions of interest that would help them understand what happens in the fire district and why. Instead, it was immediately taken over by the rantings and ravings of Mr. Lowell Johnson and his slate against the Chief and his staff.
Their attitude seemed to be one of “don’t confuse me with facts, my mind is already made up.” Several people in the audience, disgusted by their behavior, left. When some people in the audience tried to get them to act sensibly, they were told to be quiet. That was a real sign of democracy in action, wasn’t it?
Mr. Johnson’s slate must feel very desperate to resort to this type of tactic in order to persuade the taxpayers to vote for them. It’s obvious to many of us within the District that this seems to be the only alternative left to someone used to having his way on everything, including manipulating people around. When his slate resorts to stealing campaign signs from the opposition, (verbally) attacking the Chief and his professional staff, preventing others from speaking out at a community meeting, it gives the rest of us a very good idea of the type of slate they represent!”
SFD Board candidate Joe Demme and his slate have alleged that the Sedona Fire District has not been audited. Yet, the annual audits they have had are identical to the ones that were done by all of the AZ fire districts, counties and municipalities. They follow the rules and regulations pertaining to GASB and must be reviewed and accepeted by the State of Arizona. In effect, by their allegations they are contending that none of those entities have had adequate audits done of their organizations. How shallow and foolish is that argument? If one were to follow their logic, the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, etc. and the counties in Yavapai, Coconino, Maricopa, etc have not been audited either, neither have any of the Fire Districts within the state. By the way, the audit firm that has been engaged by the SFD to do the next annual audit is the same one that has done work for the City of Flagstaff and Yavapai County.
This bit of misinformation they have been spreading, is no different than all of the other pearls of wisdom they have been sharing with the local electorate, as well as anything else that they may come up with before next week’s election.
Be an informed voter and check the information that’s being shared with you in the next few days!