A campaign bus used by mayoral candidate Joe O'Malley was reported vandalized Aug. 11. (Photo by Kevin Kelley)

O’Malley’s campaign bus vandalized
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published August 17, 2005

A vandal using green spray paint defaced the campaign bus of Westlake school board member and mayoral candidate Joe O'Malley last week.

Police said they are investigating the vandalism but have no suspects. The vandalism was reported the morning of Aug. 11 and apparently occurred sometime between 8 p.m. Aug. 10 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 11, police said.

The perpetrator wrote "No Way" with green spray paint over a banner reading "Elect Joe O'Malley, Mayor of Westlake" which had been mounted on the side of the bus.

Bus windows and license plates were spray-painted and an attempt was apparently made to remove the license plate sticker.

"It is an absolute shame that someone in this great community would engage in such juvenile actions against a political candidate," O'Malley said in a press statement. "I hope they find the people who did this so everyone involved in the political process can tell them that this is not the kind of dirty politics the people of Westlake want or will embrace."

The bus is owned by Number One Media, which rented the vehicle to O'Malley's campaign. O'Malley had been using the bus to promote his candidacy and call on people to "get on board" his campaign.

O'Malley told West Life he was disappointed at the incident and believes the culprit was someone who "overzealously or improperly supports my opponent."

At the time of the incident, O'Malley's bus was parked at Fit By Five Preschool, 29520 Center Ridge Road. On Aug. 9, the business' owner, James DeMarsh, received a notice from the city to remove the bus from a non-hard surface of his property. DeMarsh, an O'Malley supporter, was told he was in violation of a section of the city's zoning code which states "The parking of motor vehicles on any lot shall be permitted only on the paved or improved parking areas designated and permitted as parking areas under this Zoning Code…"

DeMarsh told West Life the bus was parked on a grassy area on his property. He said he was told by Tom Blue, the city's property maintenance officer, that the bus would not be allowed on the pavement either because it contained advertising.

Blue told West Life O'Malley's bus fits the definition of a portable sign, which is not permitted in the city.

"Anywhere that it's parked it's a violation," Blue said.

In July, O'Malley said he received a notice to either remove the bus or the banner from the bus when it was parked in front of his campaign headquarters on Center Ridge Road. O'Malley complied with the notice.

Mayor Dennis Clough uses a van on which campaign information is painted. Blue said as long as Clough's vehicle is used for normal transportation and is not continually parked in a business area, it is within the law.

O'Malley estimated the cost of the damage at over $1,000. The two defaced banners will each cost $500 to replace, he added.

O'Malley said he will likely have to use his campaign funds to repair the vandalism because he did not believe the bus owner's insurance covered vandalism.

He promised the bus would be back on the road before the end of the campaign.