Councilwoman Reprimanded After Teen Caught On Video Running Off With Campaign Signs
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - You've likely heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, which helped lead this country to independence and democracy. This is a midnight ride of a different sort, dealing with the issue of fair election campaigning.
It was just after midnight on August 6, when a camera caught an SUV driving past campaign signs for Nancy Sharpe, who was running for county commissioner. A few moments later, a teenage boy is seen picking up one of the signs and running back towards the car, picking another sign up along the way.
A few moments later the boy is again seen sprinting away with more campaign signs in hand.
One problem: that's not how unauthorized signs are supposed to be removed.
"We hope that they will call our code enforcement, there's a 24 hour, 7 day a week number you can call and they will be removed," said Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon.
In another instance, the boy is seen emerging from bushes, making a cautious glance to be sure no one is around as scoops up more signs, before jumping back into the brush.
Except there was someone watching, with camera in tow, and that person called the police.
A short time later, a responding officer pulled the suspicious car over. Inside was not only the teen, but a Centennial County Councilwoman, Sue Bosier, who was managing the campaign of Sharpe's opponent.
Bosier told police the signs were illegal because they were on a right of way, and also that the teen was her son. The boy was actually the candidate's son.
At Centennial City Hall, she defended her actions, saying: "It is not illegal to remove a sign from a right of way, because they were not supposed to be there in the first place."
But the video and her statements apparently did her in. The council voted to give her a written reprimand and a public censure.
The video was taken by a friend of Sharpe.
Councilwoman Bosier issued a statement after the incident in August, saying: "I will continue to remove signs from the public right of way, and weeds and litter too."
