The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received August 30, 2026.
Over the weekend of August 22nd and August 23rd, on the Saturday and Sunday nights prior to the School Budget Referendum on August 25th, bad actors uprooted and stole ALL of the posted VOTE NO signs in both towns of Haddam and Killingworth!
The State DOT and/or Town Crew did not take them. I contacted and visited their garages and confirmed neither of them had the VOTE NO signs. Logically, the DOT or the Town would not assemble a road crew on a Saturday and Sunday night exclusively to confiscate only VOTE NO signs, especially signs on private property. Besides, the garages are closed weekends.
One has to wonder, what kind of example does this set for the children? Is it okay to lie, cheat and steal if it achieves your agenda? It’s been a week. At the time of submitting this on August 30th, neither the Board of Education nor the Haddam- Killingworth Education Association has issued a statement condemning this criminal activity.
Doug Downey, Higganum
This behavior has been spoken about numerous times. I, currently serving as the President of the Haddam Killingworth Education Association, have addressed this and many other instances over the years of budget signs being stolen or thrown into the woods. We have had vote yes signs removed and damaged for decades. In this 4th referendum alone we had 11 signs taken, and not by the towns or the state.
Throwing stones to one group or another is not productive. The behavior is not new and certainly not one sided.