Vandals have damaged campaign signs of two Kelowna-Lake Country candidates in the past week.

First was Stephen Fuhr, who had at least three signs vandalized with his face being coloured in with black marker. The vandalism happened after a photo was published last week of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with dark makeup on his face and hands while dressed as Aladdin in 2001.

Conservative candidate Tracy Gray, who had initially called the vandalism of her competitor害羞草研究所檚 signs 害羞草研究所渦nacceptable,害羞草研究所� was the most recent target of vandalism after one of her signs on Lodge Road in Lake Country was spray-painted with several vulgarities.

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READ MORE: Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative calls defaced Liberal signs 害羞草研究所榰nacceptable害羞草研究所�

Gray did not provide photos of the signs to Capital News because she did not want to give the person responsible any 害羞草研究所渁irtime,害羞草研究所� but described the things written on her signs as 害羞草研究所渧ery vulgar.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e chose not to really comment on it or perpetuate it,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure that residents here have other things to concern themselves with in their businesses and in their lives than whether or not I have damaged political signs.害羞草研究所�

Gray said she informed Fuhr about his damaged signs as soon as she found out.

害羞草研究所淎 group of volunteers and I were door-knocking yesterday when this story broke, and residents told us about it on their doorsteps,害羞草研究所� said Gray last Thursday afternoon.

害羞草研究所淭his morning our sign team was out checking on our signs and saw defaced signs.

害羞草研究所淲e reached out to (Fuhr害羞草研究所檚) campaign to let them know and I called (Fuhr) directly to let him know that this is unacceptable and I do not condone this.害羞草研究所�

Fuhr, seeking re-election as the Liberal Party害羞草研究所檚 candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country, said the vandalism to his signs was very unfortunate.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just trying to build a better community here,害羞草研究所� said Fuhr.

害羞草研究所淲e raise money to pay for those signs and people volunteer to go put them out. To see people go out of their way to do something like that I think is really too bad.害羞草研究所�

Last week Trudeau profusely apologized for dressing up as blackface and asked Canadians for their forgiveness during a press conference in Winnipeg after photos emerged that he dressed up as blackface or brownface on three separate occasions.

害羞草研究所淟ike all Canadians I was extremely shocked and disappointed when I learned of Justin Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 actions this evening,害羞草研究所� said Conservative leader Andrew Scheer.

害羞草研究所淲earing brownface is an act of open mockery and racism. It was just as racist in 2001 as it is in 2019 and what Canadians saw this evening is someone with a complete lack of judgment and integrity and someone who is not fit to govern this country.害羞草研究所�

Despite the controversy, Fuhr stands by his embattled leader.

害羞草研究所淭he fact that he has taken ownership for it and has apologized is very important,害羞草研究所� said Fuhr.

害羞草研究所淚t is very clear that he doesn害羞草研究所檛 have any negative racial views, I害羞草研究所檝e certainly never seen that. He has always been a great supporter of the LGBTQ community.害羞草研究所�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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