During campaign season, accusations of candidates (or their supporters) stealing, destroying, or otherwise vandalizing the campaign signs of their opponents run rampant—so rampant, in fact, that most of the fingerpointing fails to reach the level of importance to be reported on, with more substantive issues taking their place.
But in one North Texas House runoff race, accusations of vandalism by one campaign have led to an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
House District 61 in Collin County is an open seat, after State Rep. Scott Sanford’s (R–McKinney) decision to not run for re-election. Dallas police officer and former McKinney City Councilman Frederick Frazier is in a runoff election against Paul Chabot, a former military intelligence officer and retired deputy sheriff. Both are seeking the Republican Party’s nomination.
According to a Texas lawmaker who has been briefed on the matter, police reports were filed months ago when some of Chabot’s signs were vandalized. In a highly unusual move, the Collin County district attorney’s office reportedly referred the case to the Texas Rangers, the state’s investigative police, citing a “conflict of interest.”
Earlier this month, the Texas Rangers completed their investigation and returned their findings back to the DA, a spokesman for the state investigators told Texas Scorecard, adding that “the results of the investigation may be found with the District Attorney’s Office.”
Bill Wirskye, the first assistant district attorney in the Collin County DA’s office, told Texas Scorecard that according to the office’s “longstanding policy based on legal and ethical constraints,” they do not comment publicly on pending matters.
“These accusations are deeply disturbing and, if true, are disqualifying,” said Paul Chabot. “Anyone in law enforcement is entrusted by the public to play by the rules and obey the law. We hope the truth immediately surfaces.”
Frederick Frazier did not return a request for comment.
