Pontiac mayor’s campaign sign torched in front of new tennis club PONTIAC — After a large campaign sign of his was set ablaze early Monday, Mayor Leon Jukowski has one insight into the suspect. “It’s clearly not someone who supports me.” The 4 foot by 8 foot plastic sign, which Jukowski said cost about $100, had been placed in front of the Wessen Lawn Tennis Club, a $1.5 million redevelopment of the former Hayes Jones Community Center by architect Bill Massie that’s scheduled to open in May. Jukowski said a neighbor called the fire department at about 12:30 a.m. Monday. “Never in 20 years (in politics) have I seen someone burn someone’s sign, and I think it’s particularly irresponsible in this case because this gentleman is spending something like $1.5 million of his own money rehabbing that facility, and some idiot decided that was a good place to start a fire. It’s incomprehensible,” the mayor said. “It’s a crime. This is an arson. If we do find out who did it, they’re going to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Massie said he’s going to review security camera footage to see if it helps to identify a suspect. He said the burnt sign hasn’t discouraged him. “Overall, during the construction and the development, things have been perfect. We’ve had no real incidents of vandalism or anything else,” he said. “I think this is a political act, and I’m a big supporter of the mayor because he’s pro-business, and that’s why I have the sign on the property, because I’m very much pro-business, and I think Leon is a candidate that can help Pontiac in that way, for sure.” Jukowski said he’s certain his opponent, Deirdre Waterman, had nothing to do with the fire. “More than likely, it’s some misguided supporter of hers,” he said. Waterman said she hasn’t seen many of her signs disappear, and that the mayoral race hasn’t been marked by hijinks. “We have stayed on issues, and we’re happy that we’ve set the tone of staying on issues and not dirty tricks like there have been in previous campaigns.” Pontiac voters will go to the polls on Nov. 5 to choose a mayor, members of the Pontiac City Council and members of the Pontiac Public Library board. Contact staff writer Dustin Blitchok at 248-745-4685 or dustin.blitchok@oakpress. Follow him on Twitter @SincerelyDustin.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 17:01:44 +0000
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