The North Battleford mayor’s race turned ugly during the final few days as vandalism hit the campaign of the incumbent.
There were reports over the weekend of extensive damage to a number of signs for Mayor Ryan Bater throughout the community. The signs had been vandalized with spray paint and graffiti.
Other candidates for mayor quickly denounced the activity. Here is a summary of their reactions posted on Facebook.
David Gillan (candidate for mayor):
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable, it is the very reason we are all running, to eliminate acts of crime like this. Politics aside, we are all neighbours and want a more safe and unified community. It is very disrespectful to the hard work put into this campaign. No matter who is elected, we must continue to work together with a single voice to stamp out such acts.”
Lois Laing (candidate for mayor):
“My campaign denounces any damage or vandalism of election signs. It is illegal and makes no difference to the election. It doesn’t just show disrespect for the candidate but also for the process altogether. I specifically denounce the damage to Ryan Bater’s signs as it is also a distasteful public display.
“Our campaign has also suffered damaged and stolen signs, in fact, a full half of our signs were stolen and we have had to print a second batch to replace them. While replacing and fixing our signs we witnessed many other damaged signs also both mayor and council candidates. Please everyone show the respect and class we have in our community and stop this behaviour. In the end signs can’t vote and destroying them doesn’t prevent votes.”
Misa Nikolic (candidate for mayor):
“It has come to my attention that a number of signs and billboards for current Mayor Ryan Bater have been defaced with graffiti. This is childish and obviously illegal. It is also an ineffective means of persuasion, more likely to generate sympathy for the victim than votes against him.
“... While there is widespread dissatisfaction with the current mayor (as evidenced by the number of candidates and high voter turnout), this dissatisfaction should not be expressed by such base means."
Council candidates were also quick to denounce the damage.
Kent Lindgren:
“I woke up this am to hear about Ryan Bater’s campaign signs being vandalized with lewd and homophobic graffiti, and an email from a community member who discusses crime, but also stating her disbelief in treaty 6 and reconciliation.
"I believe that our community is more than this, but it is sad to see this disgusting behaviour and actions at work. I, along with my current council members and our mayor have taken strong stances against hate and discrimination in our community.”
Kelli Hawtin:
“This morning I was shocked to hear of the vandalism on Mayor Ryan Bater’s campaign signs throughout our community. This type of behaviour is not only unacceptable, but it is unproductive.
"What did not shock me was that a whole team came together this morning to condemn this behaviour, and repair the damage. We do not move our community forward through acts of bullying or through defaming or shaming one another, but we do move forward by working together. Our community will continue to be an even greater place through respectful debate, through team work, through building respectful relationships and by standing together to build an even brighter future."
Bater thanked all those who had offered help to repair the damage.
Ryan Bater:
“Thank you to everyone who reached out to help repair the extensive damage targeted at our campaign signs this morning. So many of you came out to help that we were able to get them all repaired and cleaned up before lunch! It was simply amazing.
“You all have my most sincere gratitude.
"This was the real beauty of our community- people helping others…helping to right a wrong. This is who we are. Those who seek to destroy have only failed. They brought us closer and now we (are) even more resilient.
"Thank you all, and take care."
