"STOP VETS, VOTE BISHOP" Slogan Appears in Yellow Paint Over "Zeldin for Congress" Billboard

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Removal of Damaged Sign

PATCHOGUE, NY (10/25/2008)(readMedia)-- Lee Zeldin, Republican and Conservative Party candidate for the First Congressional District, held a press conference at his office Friday to address anti-veteran graffiti apparently left early Thursday morning in support of Tim Bishop's re-election efforts.

The vandalism continued a troubling, campaign-long trend by defacing a 4' x 8' Zeldin billboard with the words, "STOP VETS, VOTE BISHOP" (see attached photo)

Over the course of the last week, 12 other billboards have been defaced or stolen throughout Smithtown, Brookhaven and Southampton. In response to these acts of theft and vandalism, several police reports have been filed.

"Throughout this campaign, the anti-veteran propoganda from opponents targeting myself and the rest of the veterans' community is insulting, outrageous, and inexcusable," said Zeldin. "These campaign tactics of theft, vandalism, and anti-veteran rhetoric are outrageous and do not have any place in the political discourse. These attacks have nothing to do with the issues. I demand my opponent instruct his supporters to immediately cease these despicable campaign tactics."

Bishop spoke with Campaign Chairman Bill Fries Thursday and offered to send staff over to assist with the removal of the sign. Fries respectfully declined.

On Friday, Zeldin removed the sign with the assistance of dozens of fellow veterans.

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Zeldin studied at the University at Albany, graduated from Albany Law School, and earned his commission through Army ROTC. He was a paratrooper, prosecutor and magistrate with the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps. In the summer of 2006, he was a JAG attorney deployed to Iraq. The Shirley resident served as an aide to State Senator Ken LaValle. He is currently an attorney at Raiser & Kenniff on Long Island.

For more information on Lee's campaign please visit us at www.zeldin08.com

Paid for by Lee Zeldin for Congress