Balcom, who was defeated by Patricia Ryan in the Republican primary election for Hartwick Town Supervisor with a 72 to 44 vote, is still in the race as an independent candidate.

She posted political signs around the area. However, for the first time in her political career, she found her signs being destroyed only a day after being put up. Balcom said the signs were delivered on Oct. 11 and many were taken down by the next morning.

``It is very hard for us to understand what is going on,’’ Balcom said.

Balcom said there have been signs taken off people’s lawns as well as from corners and rightaways. She said five signs were taken from North Street in Hartwick including one from her aunt’s lawn. Balcom also said three signs were taken from lawns on West Main Street and two from lawns on East Main Street.

Signs are also being driven over, according to Balcom. She said she could see where a vehicle ran on the soft ground to dive over a sign on Bissell Road where she lives.

Hartwick town clerk Regina Palmer said she put up a sign in her yard and it was gone the next morning.

``It’s kind of mean and low, I think, especially to run them over," said Palmer.

Balcom said she does not want to believe the opposition is to blame for the destruction of the signs. She did say however, she did not notice anybody else’s signs being ruined or removed.

``We prefer to think that it is a person that doesn’t know what they are doing is vandalism and illegal,’’ said Balcom.

Balcom said she has been running for different offices since 1978 and has never seen anything like this before. She said there are always issues, but nothing to the extent of destroying signs.

``It is not the way politics is supposed to work,’’ she said. ``If someone has an issue, it should be discussed during a public forum.’’

Balcom said the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office has been notified to put them on notice. She also said signs are being put back in places where they have been taken down or destroyed. Balcom said there is a sign on State Highway 205 that has specifically taken a lot of wear and tear a number of times.

As of Monday afternoon, the sheriff’s office had no new information and no new complaints had been made.