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It seems to be happening more and more across this country and, sadly, across the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Hotly contested elections for local offices are bringing out the worst in some of us, even those who claim to be “accepting” and “inclusive.”
It’s no different in Easton, Maryland, as one candidate, Frank Gunsallus, is finding out firsthand. Gunsallus, who is running for re-election to the post of President of the Easton Town Council, has had a firm hand in cleaning up some of the corruption that existed in the small town. He has also been outspoken about issues surrounding how Easton’s Council spends money, particularly on the issue of spending money on citywide decorations and festivals for special interest groups such as Delmarva PRIDE. Gunsallus has limited public spending on pride flags for the town as well, refusing to have Pride flags flown at town buildings and offices. Also, while the town has granted a permit for the Pride Festival, restrictions have been placed so that certain performances such as drag shows, be limited to adult only, indoor venues.
This has angered some members of groups such as the LGBTQIA+ community on Delmarva who have resorted to calling him and Councilman David Montgomery “fascists” during public council meetings.
From the beginning of the election, Gunsallus, who is running against current councilman Don Abbatiello, has had campaign signs stolen. If that wasn’t bad enough, this week he had more signs stolen, damaged, and defaced. After multiple problems, Gunsallus decided to report the incidents to law enforcement, officials and media as “hate crimes.” Here is his letter:
I am writing to document a series of concerning events that have unfolded over the past few weeks during my campaign in Easton, Maryland. I am copying all relevant local officials and law enforcement to ensure transparency and to request your immediate attention to this matter.
Over the course of my campaign, I have experienced significant vandalism, with an estimated 30 to 50 campaign signs stolen. Initially, I viewed these thefts as minor nuisances—casualties of a competitive campaign—and chose not to report them, opting instead to replace the signs and move forward. I did not want to burden law enforcement with what I considered petty issues.
However, the situation escalated this week when someone entered my Goldsborough Street property and stole multiple signs, as well as from the homes of neighbors who were displaying my signs. These stolen signs were then discarded across the street in the yard of Anchor Church, with one sign found twenty feet up in a tree. Although I still considered this a minor issue, the fact that the theft occurred on my property prompted me to file a police report with the Easton Police Department.
The situation took a far more serious and deeply concerning turn last night. After attending a meeting, I was informed that one of my campaign signs at the corner of Aurora and South Lane had been defaced. Upon investigating, I discovered a swastika adhered to the sign—a clear hate symbol. I immediately contacted Sgt. Sally, who dispatched two officers to the scene. I have embedded a photograph of the defaced sign below this message for your reference. I asked the officers to report this as a hate crime.
While I was willing to overlook the earlier thefts as petty acts, this act of hate has escalated the situation into a deeply troubling reality that demands our collective attention.
I am exceedingly concerned about what this escalation might lead to if left unchecked.
Reflecting on recent events, another disturbing incident comes to mind. On March 1, 2025, my father-in-law observed a man with red hair on my property peering through the windows of my home on Goldsborough Street while he was inside. At the time, I dismissed it as an isolated occurrence, but considering the thefts and the hate crime, it’s difficult to consider this a coincidence.
I am deeply troubled by what is happening in our town. What steps will law enforcement take to address these incidents and prevent further escalation?
A Gunsallus Sign on Aurora Street and South Lane is Defaced with a Swastika
As we have seen with similar incidents nationwide, these actions often graduate to worse destruction of property and even physical violence. Attacks are sometimes inspired by incendiary slogans such as these handed out at a recent event in support of Abbatiello and candidate for Councilman of the Fourth Ward, Reverend Elmer Davis:
Here’s an online description of that event. Notice that they are “fearful” and “disgusted” about the “condition of our politics” and now have a “shared commitment to harness our anger.” The message closes with #intensifythefight. You be the judge of what that means. (We have redacted the names of some of the participants and the business.)
The day AFTER this event, the theft, vandalism and destruction of Gunsallus’s signs became widespread. This morning, March 29th, even more Gunsallus signs were found to have had swastikas placed on them.
While many might explain away the implied violence on these buttons as merely a slogan that is often used to encourage supporters to action, it’s not coincidental that these illegal, hateful events happened the day following the distribution of the buttons during the political gathering Foxwell describes.
Standing From the Right At the Recent Political Event : Don Abbatiello, Reverend Elmer Davis, and Len Foxwell.
Leaders on the left have encouraged these actions for years. Here is evidence:
The speech shown above has been going on since before Trump’s first term.
Now, we are seeing this violence every day with attacks on Tesla dealers, Tesla owners, Jewish students in universities, etc. The fact that the buttons handed out at this event in support of two local candidates, one a teacher and one a Reverend and former police officer, sport the slogan “intensify the fight” conveys the message for locals to resort to an amped up fight, i.e. violence. Thus, the possible encouragement to vandalize campaign signs.
The people committing these acts may believe that they are intensifying the fight.
Like any other vice, once violence and hatred are normalized, they become easier to excuse, accept and commit. It’s a message that truly should be avoided, especially in local elections.
Candidate Don Abbatiello made a statement via THE STAR DEMOCRAT Saturday:
” We obviously disagree on some issues, we’re (he and Gunsallus) running against each other, but there’s no reason to deface people’s property. There’s no reason to being hatred into this at all. We are still a community. We’re still neighbors. We should act like it.”
It was Abbatiello who pointed out the vandalism to Gunsallus.
We have seen no official statement from Reverend Davis, who participated in the political event where the buttons were distributed. We are not clear on whether he and Abbatiello had any knowledge of the buttons and their message.
Local Police and the Sheriff’s Department are investigating the incidents and will charge those responsible.
NOTE: The Easton Gazette does not condone violence theft, vandalism, or destruction of property including campaign signs regardless which side commits it.
We also believe in free speech. We encourage those handing out those pins to make a statement to their recipients that they do NOT promote theft, vandalism, destruction of property, or hatred. Better yet, they might not want to hand them out.
ADDITIONAL STORY FROM THE STAR DEMOCRAT:
Easton candidates speak out against sign vandalism – Star Democrat
The post Theft, Vandalism And Hate Crimes In Easton Town Election appeared first on The Easton Gazette.
