FARMINGTON — Supporters of a no vote on the Regional School Union 9 budget lost a total of 51 signs over the two districtwide votes in June and July.

The “vote no” group had 100 signs created prior to the first vote in June, Michael Deschenes said Tuesday after reading about the tampering and loss of vote-yes signs.

The 100 signs were put out along Route 4 prior to the June 14 vote. Some “vote yes” signs were posted directly in front of them, he said.

The group didn’t complain and no one touched the “vote yes” signs, he said. Some members of the group went back out and moved the “vote no” signs.

After the first vote, a total of 26 “vote no” signs were gone. 

The signs were repainted with the new voting date and the remaining signs went back out last week prior to Thursday’s vote, he said.

When group members went out to collect them, another 25 signs were missing, he said. They searched the area to see if the signs were pulled and tossed in the bushes, but they were gone. More than half the signs had been taken, he said.

According to state law, taking, defacing or disturbing a political sign is a civil violation that carries a fine of up to $250.

The group chose not to complain or retaliate, he said. They didn’t want to draw negative attention to their cause.

Deschenes said his truck was even vandalized in his yard after he spoke at a public meeting. There were hateful words left with a marker and a Post-it note which read “support our schools” was tacked to his windshield. He washed his truck but never complained to the police, he said.

Deschenes often spoke against the proposed budget, but it was never against children, he said.  

“We are not against children,” he said. “We fought against cuts that involved children. It was about the administrative costs of the school budget.”

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