Posted on Mon, May. 17, 2004
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8690194.htm?1c St. Johns candidate confirms booby-trapping his campaign signs
Associated Press
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - A St. Johns County Commission candidate says he
put nails with exposed tips in a campaign sign to "stick" anyone who tried to take it.It worked when a man was stuck as he tried to remove a sign he said was posted on his property
without permission, sheriff's officers report.
Pal Howell said Monday he came up with the idea out of frustration over the theft of 28 campaign signs.
The Sheriff's Office said it is investigating not only nails placed in campaign signs at two locations but
also a "trip wire" set up near two other Howell signs....snip...
"It's a rather
evil and demented scenario when you think about it," said Miller, who supports a Howell opponent. "I would certainly think there's a law against going on someone else's property and setting a booby trap."
Howell said he didn't put a trip wire next to any signs and doesn't know who did.
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Information from: The Florida Times-Union,
http://www.jacksonville.com
His "announcement" when he decided to run..
Pal West Howell, of Fruit Cove, is seeking the District 1 seat on the St. Johns County Commission that he lost to Nicholas Meiszer in 2000.
Howell opened his campaign account with the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office last week.
Both Howell and Meiszer are Republicans.snip////.
"We don't have any representation up here," Howell said.
Howell said he will campaign
against increasing the gas tax, sales tax and ad valorem taxes.snip...