Who’s responsible for stealing Simmons’ signs?

Tue, 05/20/2008 - 4:06pm
By: Letters to the ...

As a Fayette County resident, I am highly motivated to participate as a voter in the coming elections for Fayette County sheriff and other offices.

However, I find it very disturbing that signs for candidate Dave Simmons are being removed with alarming frequency along County Line Road and other locations in Fayetteville.

And it is very curious that the signs for candidate Wayne Hannah, in the same area, are not removed.

It is not known by me who is removing these signs, but I believe that such actions hinder free and fair elections.

Further, since Mr. Hannah is the beneficiary of these actions, it is incumbent upon him to make sure such sign removal is brought to a screeching halt to avoid any suspicion on his part.

Donald Sims

Fayetteville, Ga.

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Submitted by susieq on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 11:25pm.

It is possible that Mr. Simmons is not aware that you have to get permission from property owners to place a sign. Maybe the property owner does not want a Simmons sign. Ever thought about that?

You don't just go place a sign on somebody's property because you saw another sign there.

Submitted by KCW56 on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 10:48am.

Another arch supporter of Hannah I suppose. I don't remember this being an issue when Mr. Simmons ran for public office before, so why now? He is an educated man, who knows the law, thus Susie q, what you are suggesting is breaking the law. I don't think any candidate would place an illegal sign on private property without getting approval first. Shows total ignorance on your part. All Hannah supporters, get real, resort to positive tactics as to holding debates with all the candidates and hanging on to that lonely fact of experience only. Shouldn't that be enough without resorting to such negative comments and unfounded accusations?

Submitted by susieq on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 11:00am.

Ignorance on my part? I don't think so.

I did not make a negative comment. You want a negative comment? Here it is -- Maybe a supporter of Simmons is picking up his signs so he can make a big deal of it and accuse the other candidates. It certainly gives him more publicity.

Things like this happen, and the candidates have no control over it.

Submitted by Tom1939 on Wed, 05/21/2008 - 12:44pm.

It is clear that the "campaign sign" issue is being employed as a red herring. It is also clear the "campaign sign" issue is part of a coordinated strategy to make the leading sheriff's candidate look bad. These conclusions are reached because the blog post want to attach some negative aspect to "Hannah" because they view him as the leading candidate. Therefore, as you suggest, it is probable that the Simmons' campaign created the "campaign sign" issue in order to create this opportunity for these coordinated blog postings of "staged outrage" by various, or probably the same, poster(s).

That is the bad thing about questionable character, the lost of the benefit of a doubt that the individual(s) is or are above such things. Therefore, we cannot put your assertion past the Dunn / Simmons campaign.

Notice that when a reasonable explanation is offered for why the campaign signs have been removed, the Dunn / Simmons campaign blog poster(s) stick to their "talking points", which seem to be pre-planned and pre-scripted.

Mr. Dunn, in his desire to control the sheriff's department, has probably sunk funds into the Simmons' campaign, which is looking to become a bad investment. But, wait, there's more, the Simmons campaign looks to have the negative effect of dragging Dunn's campaign down with it.

Can Fayette county citizens allow Greg Dunn to control the sheriff's office? Can the voters allow Dunn to set up puppets in important county departments who are under his control and influence? Simmons is a political creature who likes to attach himself to other individuals of questionable motives and methods of operating. This is how he rose through the ranks of Detroit's corrupt police department.

Greg Dunn is Simmons' new meal ticket to power and position. Dunn is Simmons' new Democratic mayor Coleman Young, his new convicted drug fund thief, Chief Hart, his new scandal ridden, Chief McKinnon. Powerful people who opened the door to position, power and wealth for Simmons. The one common trait all of these individuals had was corrupt character. Birds of a feather flock together. Dave (but...but...but...I was never charged...just cause all my associates was charged don't make me guilty...dat don't make me guilty by association) Simmons was part of a flock of corrupt characters. Does a leopard change its spots? Does a 12+ year retired old dog learn new tricks?

Are Dunn and Simmons the cast of characters, the kind of leaders Fayette county wants to become involved with?

Susieq, based on the knowledge of the character traits of Dunn and Simmons, your proposition is not totally out of question. If this is true, the devil we know is better than the devil we don't know. However, we do have some knowledge of Dunn. And, we have some circumstantial knowledge of Simmons.

We, also, have knowledge that these two characters have linked themselves together for the purpose of gaining political power. Now, knowledge of these things call for logical deductions as to what their motives are for Fayette county. And, what might be in store for the citizens of our community if these two individuals can pull off their scheme.

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 9:31pm.

It is very curious that someone who wants to be elected Sheriff keeps breaking simple laws: ie, no signs on the right of way.

It isn't rocket science it's the law.

Based on news reports from Detroit the crime capital of America the good old boy cops are used to "tweaking" the law. We frown on that here. We expect our cops to obey the law. Maybe this isn't the place for a good ole boy cop from a crime ridden city.

Submitted by KCW56 on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 9:57pm.

So the good ole boy Hannah is "tweaking" the law? Based on what I have seen, it is obvious that is exactly what's happening here. Why would a Simmons sign placed where Hannah's and Ballard's and some others and the next day the Simmons sign has been removed? I am assuming Hannah and supporters must be very worried about his campaign to resort to low tactics as removing signs. It's obvious to me what's going on.

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 10:05pm.

are bold enough to keep breaking the law.

I have seen Mindar, Hannah and Babb, and Hayes signs only on private property.

I'm not the one who called the Marshal's office on Simmons either. His signs placed illegally were the best advertisment for him and what we can expect out of him.

I don't think anyone is seriously worried about a person who has been retired for 12+yrs, with a questionable past from a city that has just been named the "worst place to live" by Forbs. com. They gave Detroit that honor because of the extremely high crime.

Why would we want someone whose ideas about fighting crime have been proven to be a complete failure?

Submitted by KCW56 on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 10:32pm.

has to be very concerned. Simmons signs that I have seen around are placed exactly where they're supposed to be along with several others. It is in the negative comment (most likely a Hannah supporter) that suggested the Marshal's office was collecting them. What has stirred this pot is people are noticing and forming their own opinions. People are intelligent in this county, they see through the negative spins from Hannah supporters like yourself perhaps?

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 10:41pm.

and look for yourself. The public works people are supposed to pick up any signs that are on the right of way, or at least in the past that is how it worked.

I'm not sold on any candidate yet.

Mindar is young and enthusiastic with some good ideas.

Hannah and Babb both have 25+yrs of experience and they have been instrumental in keeping us safe so far.

I can't decide.

Submitted by William Barrett14 on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 5:19pm.

No one is stealimg Mr. Simmon's signs. What is happening is that Mr. Simmon's signs are being taken up by the Marshal's Office or municipal code enforcement personnel because they are being illegally placed on the roadway right of way. He can get his signs back by going to the public works department on McDonough Road and retrieving them from the pile of illegally placed signs.

You'd think a Sheriff's Candidate would know where to place their signs Mr. Simmons.

By the way, Mr. Hannah's signs are not on the right of way. Call the Marshal's Office yourself.

Submitted by KCW56 on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 7:29pm.

How do you know? Are you the one taking them up or are you at the Public Works dept receiving them? I personally saw several signs, Hannah, Simmons, Ballard, etc all around the same places, off the roadway right of way. The next day Simmons sign was gone. Mr. Simmons is well aware of the roadway right of way as all candidates are aware I am sure. He has run for public office before and had signs. It is obvious to me what's happening here. If you claim the Marshal's are picking them up hopefully someone is verifying exactly were they came from.

Submitted by oldbeachbear on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 6:11pm.

every election, it is the same tired old'''he stole my sign!''' Do you guys really believe that some of us are gonna vote for someone cause you have that sign in your yard?

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