A 62-year-old woman was arrested earlier this week after someone used black paint to deface about 55 signs supporting an Encinitas City Council candidate.
The Sheriff’s Department said it arrested Encinitas resident Teresa Conkey on Monday on suspicion of aggravated vandalism. The signs were from the campaign of Dan Vaughn, one of four candidates for the District 4 council seat in the Nov. 8.
Conkey posted $20,000 bail after his arrest. He could not immediately be reached for comment, and it was unclear if he had an attorney.
It is up to the District Attorney’s office to decide whether to charge Conkey, who is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.
Reached Wednesday, Vaughn said the campaigners “could be angry.”
“I’m sure it’s an action they regret,” Vaughn said. “I don’t want to cast someone for a zealous act of bad judgment, for someone who does nothing but campaign signs.”
According to the Sheriff’s Department, someone used spray paint to cross Vaughn’s name on campaign signs posted on Encinitas Boulevard, Rancho Santa Fe Road and Village Park Way.
A witness witnessed the incident on Saturday and reported it the next day, the department said. Investigators found the license plate using surveillance footage from the area.
The victim put the value of the damaged signs at about $444, Lt. Chris Lawrence said. That’s over $400 where vandalism is a crime.
There are four candidates for the District 4 seat: Vaughn, Bruce Ehlers, Stacie Davis and Pamela Redela. The district is on the eastern edge of the city, including the community of Olivenhain.
