LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Nevada political action committee says repairs have been ordered after at least two of its campaign signs were recently vandalized with hate symbols.
Channel 13 was first made aware of this issue when a viewer reached out to report a swastika had been painted on a billboard in the area of Sunset Road and Buffalo Drive.
The billboards, paid for by Better Nevada PAC, depict California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Aaron Ford, Nevada's Democratic candidate for governor, with the words "Gavin Newsom endorses Aaron Ford."
On Saturday, we verified that the sign near Sunset and Buffalo had been defaced.
We were made aware on Monday afternoon that at least one other sign had been similarly defaced in the area of Dean Martin and Silverado Ranch in the south valley.
Additional vandalized signs were also seen in North Las Vegas, one on the corner of Craig and Simmons, and another on Cheyenne just west of Commerce.
Better Nevada PAC, which paid for the signs, is a Republican political action committee that supports Gov. Joe Lombardo's reelection campaign.
In a statement to Channel 13 on Saturday, a spokesperson for Better Nevada PAC said the committee had been made aware of the vandalism and would take steps to repair the defaced signs.
"We were just made aware that some billboards have been vandalized and are taking steps to ensure they are repaired. These messages have no place in our discourse," wrote committee spokesperson John Burke.
We also reached out to Ford's campaign, which provided the following response:
“The Ford campaign unequivocally condemns these heinous hate symbols. They are a deeply unfortunate reflection of the toxicity created by the Lombardo campaign’s ceaseless lies and smears. We call on them to join us in affirming that hatred has no place in this race, and to take down the defaced billboards.” — Spokesperson for Ford for Governor
As of Monday afternoon, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has not responded to Channel 13's inquiry regarding an investigation into the vandalism.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley shared the following statement on social media Tuesday evening:
"The city of Las Vegas does not tolerate racism, antisemitism or discrimination of any kind against any individual or group of people. When I learned of the defacing of political signs with Nazi swastikas in our city. I was disgusted and appalled. That type of behavior does not reflect the values of Las Vegas and will not be tolerated. I understand the authorities are investigating these incidents and once caught the perpetrator will be prosecuted." — Mayor Shelley Berkley
As we reported in July, the defacement of a Lombardo campaign sign previously prompted a police investigation. The "Lombardo for Governor" sign was defaced with a mustache and the words "C'mon Man" — an apparent reference to viral video from a May traffic stop.
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