Campaign sign thefts spur arrest
By Doug SmeathDeseret Morning News
A Riverton man was cited Thursday after he was accused of stealing the campaign signs of a Republican candidate for Salt Lake County district attorney. Police say the man, accused of class B misdemeanor theft, took down signs for Republican district attorney candidate Lohra Miller throughout Riverton and South Jordan. The police report says the man was pulled over by officers after a caller reported seeing him take the signs and gave his license plate number to South Jordan police. A police report says the man told police he took the signs because he believed posting them was illegal in Riverton and South Jordan. According to the report, police asked him why he didn't report the signs rather than taking them down himself. He is quoted in the report as saying, "I really don't have a good reason for stealing the signs. The only way I can explain it is I am a sign Nazi."
The man's name is the same as a former Riverton City Council member who has contributed $250 to the campaign of Miller's opponent, Democrat Sim Gill, a Salt Lake City prosecutor. But the former councilman, Tim Heaton, when contacted by the Deseret Morning News on Saturday evening, said he had not been given a citation, had not been stealing signs and was completely unfamiliar with the incident. He also denied having posted a comment on the OneUtah.org political blog endorsing Gill as "a fantastic attorney and a top legal mind." The blog comment was posted under the the name "Tim Heaton" and ended with the words, "Signed a former politician in Riverton." Blog comments can typically be posted under any identification the poster chooses, and names and identities are rarely verified by blog owners. The police report obtained by the Deseret Morning News had all of the man's identifying information, including birth date and address, blacked out with a marker. Only his name was shown. Gill said he had not heard of the citation but said he "would be really shocked" if the former councilman was to blame. He said Miller had called him earlier and reported that a number of her signs had gone missing but that "I have no idea who it is." Gill said many of his signs have been stolen as well. "Whoever does it, they ought to be punished. It's not fair to anyone," Gill said. "If someone's vandalizing somebody's property, wrong is wrong. ... It's happened to me, and I didn't appreciate it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone." Miller, an attorney with a private firm, agreed that having signs stolen is frustrating. She told the Deseret Morning News she had no comment on whether she suspected the signs were being stolen by a Gill supporter or whether she believed the Gill campaign was involved. The winner in the November election will replace David Yocom, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election.
E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com
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A Tenant’s Guide to Renting
The first challenge every tenant faces is finding an apartment for rent that suits their individual needs. For today’s tenant, the most effective apartment search can be done using an online apartment finder. Tenants should decide what they require in an apartment or house rental before beginning their search. For example: the number of bedrooms, location or distance from public transportation and how much the tenant can afford to pay in rent, furnished or unfurnished apartment, etc. By making these important decisions first, tenants can avoid renting an apartment or house only to regret it later. Many tenants today are taking advantage of the convenience of the internet to locate apartments for rent as opposed to the traditional print publications.
Once a possible apartment or home has been found, it is the tenant's duty to thoroughly inspect the premises making a commitment in the form of a security deposit. A tenant should not rely on the landlord or the landlord's agent to tell the tenant if anything is wrong with the property. The tenant must inspect the property carefully and ask questions about it.
Inspecting the condition and functionality of the following areas/features of the apartment before committing yourself as a tenant is highly recommended.
1. Kitchen appliances in working order.
2. Water pressure strong, plumbing without leaks.
3. Electrical outlets and wiring working.
4. Walls and ceiling painted or papered without cracks
5. Ventilation or air conditioning accessible.
6. Floors, railings and bathrooms in good repair.
7. Fire escape easy to use.
8. Stairs safe and well-lighted.
9. No rodents or insects.
10. Heating system in working order.
11. If furnished, check and write down condition of all furniture.
12. Windows and doors operable and weather-tight; screens provided.
The tenant should also check the security of the building to find out if there is a dead-bolt lock, security chain, or through-the-door viewer.
BEWARE OF EXISTING DAMAGES: In order to avoid being blamed for damages that already exist in the rental unit, the cautious tenant should take every step for self-protection. Before moving in (or as soon as possible thereafter), the tenant should make a list of all existing damages and repairs that need to be made. A copy of the list should he presented to the landlord and attached to the lease This way the landlord cannot blame the tenant for damages caused by others and the tenant will know what the landlord intends to repair. If the tenant keeps good records the landlord will not be able to keep the tenant’s security deposit for damages that were actually caused by others. Taking pictures before moving in is also strongly recommended.
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