Local Politics

'I shouldn't have done that': NC House candidate arrested, charged with stealing campaign signs

According to the Moore County Sheriff's Office, a deputy saw a man named Lowell Simon, 68, around 5:25 p.m. Thursday removing campaign signs from the roadside along Seven Lakes Drive in the West End community.
Posted 9:03 p.m. Oct 11 - Updated 12:11 a.m. Oct 12
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      NC House candidate charged with removing campaign signs in Moore County

      Moore County deputies arrested a man Friday they said was removing political campaign signs the day before.

      According to the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy saw a man named Lowell Simon, 68, around 5:25 p.m. Thursday removing campaign signs from the roadside along Seven Lakes Drive in the West End community.

      The deputy, who was responding to an unrelated crime at the time, followed up at Simon’s home and found the signs in Simon’s vehicle.

      "My worse angels got the better of me and I removed the signs," Simon said. "I shouldn't have done that. I didn't do it in the stealth of night or anything. I did it when it was five o'clock in the afternoon."

      Simon, a candidate for state House and the head of the Democratic Party in Moore County, admitted to removing the signs, which the deputy recovered and returned to the original owner.

      According to Simon, the signs, which were campaign signs for former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump, were obscuring the signs he already placed along the stretch of Seven Lakes Drive.

      Political signs on Seven Lakes Road.
      Political signs on Seven Lakes Road.

      "I've been telling people for years don't touch opposition signs, but I was [mad]," he said.

      Authorities issued a warrant for Simon’s arrest on Friday and charged him with two counts of misdemeanor larceny of political signs. He was released under a written promise to appear in court.

      Simon said he was frustrated by the ordeal because for months, he's been dealing with the same issue with his own party's signs.

      Political signs.
      Political signs.

      "If people are going to break the law, myself included, there should be consequences," Simon said. "But, the law should be applied equally. I understand that sometimes you catch the criminal and sometimes you don't, but it has to be applied equally."

      Sheriff Ronnie Fields issued a reminder that removing or stealing campaign signs during election periods is against the law in North Carolina.

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