From Staff Reports 

HENDERSONVILLE —  The Henderson County Democratic Party issued a call “for action against political sign vandalism in Henderson County in a Sept. 6 press release, a copy of which was emailed to the Daily Planet.

In remarks above the release, HCDP spokesman Dalton Buchanan asserted, “These unlawful actions are a direct threat to free speech and the democratic process — and we believe it is important to raise awareness about this issue within our community.”

Buchanan later added, “It is our hope that by shedding light on these incidents, we can prevent further acts of vandalism and promote a unified commitment to preserving democracy, regardless of political affiliation....

“Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support of fair and respectful elections.”

The HCDP release (emailed from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) stated the following:

“As Americans, we share more common ground than division, but during the heat of poltical campaigns, those differences can feel overwhelming. It is essential now, more than ever, to uphold our shared values of respect, free speech and property rights.

“In recent weeks, a troubling trend has emerged in Henderson County (with) vandals trespassing on private property to destroy Democratic Party political signs. These signs, legally placed on private land, have been bulldozed, torn apart and discarded in acts of destruction.

“Such actions are not only illegal, but represent an attack on the fundamental principles of our democracy. The Henderson County Democratic Party has reported these incidents to the Sheriff’s Office, which has responded swiftly. The sheriff has expressed regret over these unlawful activities and has increased patrols in an effort to curb the vandalism.

“We urge all citizens — regardless of political affiliation — to come together to stop this behavior, Vandalis and trespassing threaten free speech, private property and the integrity of our democratic process. Henderson County is home to people who care deeply about democracy, the rule of law and ensuring fair elections.

“By working together, we can protect the values that secure our families’ future, safeguard our economy and ensure the safety of our nation. Let us remember that democracy is both a privilege and a responsibility. Now is the time to stand united in protecting it.”