Over 200 Meimeteas campaign signs stolen in Lynn

LYNN – Councilor-at-large candidate George Meimeteas says more than 200 of his campaign signs were stolen during the past two weeks, most of them over the weekend.”I was very disappointed,” said the political newcomer who lives at 30 Kings Beach Road. “I had always heard people say politics are dirty and now I understand why.”According to Meimeteas – one of six candidates vying for four councilor-at-large seats – more than 50 lawn signs were taken in Ward 7 during the most recent wave of thievery. The other lawn signs previously stolen were from his neighborhood. Two large banners were also shredded, he said.A supporter from Eastern Avenue told Meimeteas last week that he returned home from working the late shift at 3:30 a.m. and the candidate’s sign was still in the front yard, but was gone by 6 a.m. when he drove his daughter to school.The thefts were reported to police on two occasions.”This isn’t about the money. The signs cost about $8 apiece so we’re talking less than $2,000. It’s the point that some guy who might be running against me is probably doing this and if he wins he will be one of our leaders. It’s a bad example for kids to see. Besides, whoever is doing this is trespassing on private property. And it’s not kids, because in some places where two or three candidates had their signs, only mine were taken,” he said.Meimeteas plans to replace the signs.”There’s really nothing you can do. We’ll keep going strong and not let them stop our momentum,” he said.Shortly before the city’s preliminary election in September, mayoral candidate Judith Flanagan Kennedy’s campaign reported to police that dozens of her signs were stolen or damaged.