Thieves steal Westlake campaign signs
By Sophia Fischer  sfischer@theacorn.com

Two of the four candidates for Westlake City Council have reported the theft of multiple campaign signs. Both Carol Kirschbaum and Ted Corwin called police to report the matter. The value of the campaign signs was more than $400, so is considered grand theft, subject to prosecution by the district attorney's office, according to police.

Last Tues., Oct. 16, Kirschbaum and Corwin each put up several hundred signs throughout town, including along Agoura, Lindero Canyon and Triunfo Canyon roads. Two other candidates in the race, Philippa Klessig and Ned Davis, also had signs up in the same areas.

Kirschbaum said that four hours later she drove by and most of her signs were gone. On his way to work on Wednesday morning Corwin realized that most of his signs were missing as well. In addition, a pro-Corwin banner placed on the garage of a friend in First Neighborhood was removed.

"Fortunately, no other candidate's signs were gone, leading me to believe someone is playing very childish games. All of the candidates should have equal opportunity to legally place their signs," said Kirschbaum's husband, Ray, who put up his wife's signs with two friends.

In a letter to The Acorn , Ray Kirschbaum appealed for the return of the signs, "no questions asked."

"I think some people just don't know how to express themselves and that's what they come up with. It's just sad that somebody would do that," Corwin said. "I'm learning a lot about campaigning."

Police said they are patrolling the areas where the signs were reported missing.

"I don't know how they did that in the middle of the day without anyone seeing," Carol Kirschbaum said. "We live in such a small, wonderful community like this, that people have to resort to this type of behavior is really sad."