Candidate offers reward for missing campaign signs

RALEIGH, N.C. — Stan Morse is going on the offensive in his race for a seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Morse, a candidate in the 40th District, representing northern Wake County, has placed some unusual campaign ads in the local newspaper.

Readers will find Morse's ad in the classified section, next to ads for junk cars and lost cats. Morse is offering a reward for yard signs he claims are being stolen and destroyed.

"I'd love to find out who's doing it and ask them why," Morse said. He's is offering $300 for information about who might be stealing his signs.

"It's kind of been heartbreaking to see so many of them disappear every day," he said.

His opponent in the race, Marilyn Avila, says some sign damage is to be expected. She said campaign signs, especially those placed along busy roads or highways, are likely to get damaged or disappear.

"It's something you accept," Avila said. "It's something you realize when you place the signs there."

Avila said signs placed on public property might be removed by work crews who don't think twice about it.

Morse said it's happening too often for that to be a legitimate explanation. He claims to have lost almost 100 signs -- more than a quarter of the total he produced.

Morse said he doesn't plan to file any charges, but just wants his signs left alone.