Dirty Tactics Surface with Vandals Striking Cr. Maynard’s Campaign Signs Twice in One Week
As the election season begins in Wyndham, the campaign trail has already been tainted by acts of vandalism, raising concerns about the state of local politics. Cr. Peter Maynard, who is vying to represent the newly established Quandong Ward, has been targeted in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine his campaign.
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Within the span of a week, two of Cr. Maynard’s election signs have been defaced. The first sign, which was up for only a few days, was vandalised with pink paint. In response, a new sign was put up on Friday, but just two days later, it too was destroyed—this time covered in white paint. These attacks have sparked alarm over the tactics being employed as candidates gear up for the upcoming election.
Wyndham’s newly redrawn electoral boundaries now consist of 11 single-councillor wards, each represented by one councillor. Cr. Peter Maynard, who has served as the Iramoo Ward councillor since 2012 and completed three terms as Mayor of Wyndham, is now campaigning in the Quandong Ward. A long-time resident of Iramoo Ward since 1982, Cr. Maynard is known for his dedication to the community and sport. He is also a proud father of four children and grandfather to seven.
In reaction to the vandalism, Cr. Maynard took to social media to express his frustration, stating, “Really shows the intellectual capacity of some people. Second sign defaced. Both done in the space of 1 week. What I think of these people is not suitable for public viewing, and under the cover of darkness they do their dirty work. Just like a RAT.”
These incidents have cast a shadow over the early stages of the election campaign, raising concerns about whether the focus will remain on policy and community issues or be derailed by dirty politics. As Wyndham enters this election period with its restructured wards, there is hope that the campaign will rise above such acts and concentrate on what truly matters to the voters.
The community will be watching closely as the election campaign progresses, hoping that candidates will steer the conversation towards constructive debate rather than letting underhanded tactics dominate the narrative.
For all the latest updates on the council election, be sure to follow Wyndham TV.
