By Maureen Vander Sanden
SLN Staff
Elkhorn police are investigating vandalism to the Democratic Party of Walworth County’s office located at 10 S. Washington St.
On Monday, Ellen Holly, vice chair and campaign coordinator for the local political party, reported to police that someone shot four pellets or BBs at the office’s large front side window, causing a large crack, and making it necessary for the property owner to replace the 6-by-6 foot glass.
“I just think it’s a shame,” she said, “It makes me sad but it doesn’t deter me.”
Though Holly recognized that the damage could have easily been a random act of vandalism, she said the fact that the building was targeted during a presidential election “seems odd.”
According to her, the office has fielded a number of calls from Democratic supporters whose signs have been stolen or vandalized.
“I had one caller report his Obama sign was set on fire,” she said, adding she encourages anyone whose signs are defaced or stolen to call local police.
With reports last week of gunshots fired at the Democratic campaign headquarters in Denver, Holly said the recent incident is nerve-wracking but she and other volunteers remain diligent about getting the word out on their candidates.
“It just makes me more convinced that this office needs to be open more and that we need more volunteers,” she said, adding, “I am not intimidated at all.”
She said had this happened to her counterparts at the Walworth County GOP, she would be “equally horrified.”
“We should all be able to peacefully coexist,” she added.
Attempts to contact police and officials at the GOP Tuesday were unsuccessful.
