Sri Samy’s signs in Athol Road, Springvale, were torn down.
By CASEY NEILL
A CITY of Greater Dandenong council candidate fears for the safety of her family, friends and supporters following midnight raids to destroy her election signs.
Sri Samy is running for the Lightwood Ward seat at the 27 October local government election and started putting up signs promoting her candidacy on 10 October.
But by the following day they had been ripped apart and spray painted and banners for her opponents had sprung up in their place.
“I don’t have a big team, only a few friends helping me,” she said.
“We all felt very disheartened that all our efforts had gone to waste.
“This will not only stop other women from nominating in the future but have a huge impact on sincere, community-minded people who want to put their hand up to serve the community.”
Ms Samy said many of the boards were at her supporters’ homes and they reported hearing male voices about 11pm on the nights the vandalism took place.
She made a formal complaint to Springvale police “just in case anything unforeseen happens in the future”.
Springvale Sergeant Gerry Barden appealed for any witnesses to the vandalism, which happened around Springvale between 10 and 16 October.
“To imagine that it’s happening in Australia of all places – a free, democratic country,” Ms Samy said.
“I wouldn’t have got into politics in my home country because of what I saw there.”
She believed the attacks were politically-motivated but said she wouldn’t point the finger at her opponents unless there was proof. She is an Australian Labor Party member.
“But I don’t understand politics. I only decided to run because I thought the council could do better,” she said.
“I haven’t been involved in the political scene before. It’s all very new and scary to me.”
Call Springvale police on 8558 8600 with any information on the vandalism.
