Residents express fear after sheriff orders ‘all addresses’ of Harris supporters – The Portager

Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski apparently encouraged his friends and supporters to write down the addresses of people with Democratic signs in their yards, prompting accusations of voter intimidation.

In identical posts on his personal and public Facebook accounts on Sept. 13, Zuchowski wrote what he allegedly tells people who ask him what will happen if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election. Using dehumanizing language, he says he tells them to write down the addresses of people with Harris plates so he can house immigrants with them.

“When people ask me… What happens if Flip – Flopping, Laughing Hyena wins?? I say… write down all the addresses of the people who had her posters in their yards! So… when the illegal human “Locusts” (that she supports!) need a place to live… We’ll already have the addresses of their new families… who supported their arrival!” the posts read, accompanied by photos of a TV tuned to Fox News.

In the comments below the post on his personal Facebook page, one supporter responded with the name and street address of the person with Harris’ sign. “I’ll add that name to the list,” another replied. Someone else commented, “Making a list and checking it twice.”

As of September 15, the post had hundreds of reactions and over 100 shares.

Zuchowski faces a Democratic challenger for re-election in November. He did not respond to questions sent to him by email on Sept. 14.

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The backlash from Portage County residents and officials was intense over the weekend, with people saying they have filed complaints with state and federal agencies, members of Congress and the ACLU. Others are considering putting up political signs in their yards again, they said.

The most vocal condemnation came on Sept. 15, when Portage County Commissioner Tony Badalamenti criticized the sheriff’s stance and announced his resignation from the county’s Republican Central Committee.

“This is not the kind of leadership I want to be a part of,” he said in a video posted on Facebook.

Badalamenti has previously clashed with Zuchowski over the sheriff’s requests for increasing budget allocations. Badalamenti previously supported the additional funding but later said the county could no longer afford to meet Zuchowski’s requests.

This refusal contributed to a split in the Portage County Republican Party that led Zuchowski to endorse candidates for Commissioner Badalamenti and Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett in the primary election. Badalamenti lost the primary to the candidate Zuchowski endorsed.

Badalamenti could not be reached for comment, but the video appears to suggest the sheriff’s Facebook post was the final straw.

“(Zuchowski) wrote that we should all copy the addresses of people who show political signs that are different from our beliefs,” Badalamenti said. “That scares people. That’s intimidation by the highest law enforcement officer in Portage County.”

Portage County residents who contacted The Portager said they were surprised and scared.

“I have a sign in my yard. Our sheriff is asking MAGA to take down our addresses. This is not normal and scary,” one person said.

Another expressed concern for her parents: “My parents are elderly and were very politically active Democrats. Now I’m worried about them. I don’t want to scare them or suggest they take down their signs, but I’m sick with worry.”

Others have drawn analogies between Zuchowski’s description of people as “locusts” and the racist rhetoric used during the genocides in Germany and Rwanda.

“The Portage County NAACP was very disappointed to see the divisive post by our elected sheriff,” the organization said in a statement. “We believe law enforcement and elected officials have a responsibility to ensure the public safety of all citizens. Encouraging people to write down addresses, possibly so they can be tracked later, is contrary to uniting us all to improve our community. We encourage all citizens to vote their values ​​this November.”

Portage County Democratic Party Chairwoman Denise Smith also encouraged voters to respond to the sheriff’s comments during the election.

“Every elected official has the right to put whatever they want on their personal Facebook page,” she said. “Anything that someone sees as intimidation can be countered by voting against it in November, and 109,000 registered voters should fire any elected official who tries to intimidate them.”

Smith said Portage County Democrats handed out about 750 Harris signs in yards and that residents called her Saturday. Several told her they were reporting the sheriff’s comments to the attorney general, she said.

It’s unclear whether the post crosses any legal lines. Portage County Prosecutor Vic Vigluicci could not be reached for comment. Smith, an attorney, declined to provide a legal analysis but said, “I would be intimidated if he told me that.”

Following the community’s negative reaction, Zuchowski responded in a subsequent Facebook post that his last post “may have been slightly misinterpreted.”

“If the citizens of Portage County want to elect someone who supported open borders … and neglected to enforce the laws of our country, that is their prerogative,” Zuchowski wrote Tuesday night. “Elections have consequences. That said, I believe that those who vote for liberals need to take responsibility for their actions! I am a lawyer … Not a politician!”

Jon Barber, the Democratic candidate for sheriff, said the episode illustrates the difference between the two men. He said he found the racist language “appalling” and that, in any case, undocumented migration is not a major problem in Portage County.

“I think we can agree that people who flee their home countries and are willing to face the treacherous plains and unbearable conditions are doing so to provide a better life for their children,” he said. “The sheriff and the former president think everyone is a criminal. And I have a hard time seeing that.”

He added that he spoke with residents over the weekend who were concerned about the signage.

“He told his supporters to write down their addresses and make a list so they could give it to potential criminals,” Barber said. “I certainly think that’s voter intimidation.”

“I encourage everyone to check if they are registered to vote and if their registration is correct,” Barber said.

The ACLU of Portage County, Ohio, Action Team has shared information on how to report voter intimidation.

“Sheriffs are elected officials who have a duty to serve ALL members of the community. They are obligated to protect the public from intimidation and oppression. For the current Sheriff of Portage County to engage in the very behavior he is supposed to combat is despicable. Displaying a political sign is clearly protected basic First Amendment speech,” they wrote in a statement. “Voter intimidation is illegal. If you are experiencing voter intimidation, please contact the election hotline at 1-866-OUR-Vote.”

This article has been updated with comments from the ACLU. and from Bruce Zuchowski.