Local

Local candidate's signs being knocked down over and over

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There's a nightly habit one candidate for circuit court judge would rather not have: putting his campaign signs up after someone knocks them down.  Candidate Anthony Penoso tells Action News he believes his campaign is being targeted.

One neighbor said a campaign sign supporting Penoso was knocked down within 24 hours of being put up, and Penoso believes someone is doing this on purpose.

Penoso believes one of his opponent's supporters is breaking the law.

"It would be inconsistent for me to make any accusations if it was just an isolated incident. But this is a nightly event," said Penoso.

Action News found three of his signs knocked down within five minutes of one another. 

"I noticed that these are only my campaign signs that are being uprooted. We placed these 2 feet in the ground," Penoso said.

Action News was there as a Jacksonville sheriff's officer listened to Penoso's claims. Action News reached out to the campaign of Mike Sharitt, Penoso's opponent. A spokesman tells Action News none of their supporters have anything to do with this. 

Penoso doesn't blame Sharitt himself. He just wants it to stop.

"I've had to resurrect these signs at least two dozen times in the past six days," Penoso said.

If someone is caught vandalizing these signs, they could face a misdemeanor charge, police say.