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Candidate arrested for stealing opponent's lawn signs

Oct 25, 2023 12:03 am

Voting begins Saturday in this fall's election, and every polling season there are accusations of candidates stealing each others lawn signs, though rarely any proof. Now Mid-Hudson News reports that current Town of Fishkill Councilperson John Forman, now a Republican candidate for town supervisor, has been arrested by the East Fishkill Police Department for stealing an opponent's lawn signs. Forman was allegedly found, Mid-Hudson News reports, with a sign that was equipped with a GPS tracking device. That campaign sign, from his opponent incumbent Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra, alleges that Forman resides in East Fishkill, not Fishkill, and is not eligible for the supervisor position. Mid-Hudson News says Forman was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor, after the sign was found in his vehicle in Hopewell Junction on Oct. 24. Voting begins Oct. 28 and continues through Nov. 7, and Forman will be arraigned on Nov. 1. Retired New York State Trooper Louise Daniele, who is also on the town board, attached an AirTag to one Albra's signs. Daniele says, “I placed the sign at Cary Road and State Route 52 in the Village of Fishkill last night (October 22) around 5:50 p.m.... This morning I checked to see if it was still there and it was missing and on my phone app, I could see that it was then at 2424 State Route 52 in East Fishkill.” Daniele knew that address was one of Forman’s work locations. Daniele says Forman admitted to police that he had more than 30 additional signs at his Sylvan Lake residence. Read more about this story in Mid-Hudson News.