What started as one Cambrian resident’s personal crusade against allegedly rogue campaign signs has turned into a neighborhood feud, a potential criminal case, and a political headache in San Jose’s District 9.
Two City Council hopefuls, Rick Ator and Mike Hennessy, say a local man has scooped up scores of their campaign signs ahead of the June 2 primary, costing their operations thousands of dollars and derailing outreach. The man, Jeff Bollini, calls himself a “part-time volunteer” and says he is simply cleaning up signs he believes violate city rules and inviting campaigns to retrieve them from his home. Bollini first contacted campaigns on April 8 and keeps a printed copy of the city’s sign rules in his car, according to San José Spotlight. The candidates say that what he calls volunteer code enforcement looks a lot more like theft.
Video, Chemical Claims And Doorstep Confrontations
The dispute boiled over on April 15, when Hennessy confronted Bollini at his home, an encounter captured on video and reviewed by reporters. In the footage, Hennessy is seen leaving Bollini’s property with stacks of campaign signs after a tense exchange.
Both Hennessy and Ator told reporters that some signs they recovered have been covered in a strong-smelling chemical, adding another twist to an already bizarre neighborhood drama. Ator went so far as to seek a restraining order against Bollini, a request a Santa Clara County judge rejected, according to reporting.
Police Probe And DA Referral
The sign war has now drawn in law enforcement. A San Jose Police Department spokesperson confirmed to San José Spotlight that detectives investigated reports of stolen campaign signs.
The case was later transferred out of Santa Clara County to avoid a potential conflict, then referred to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office. That move means the fight over lawn signs could shift from a campaign-trail squabble to a criminal courtroom, depending on whether prosecutors decide to file charges.
What City Rules Allow, And What They Do Not
San Jose does have rules about where political signs can go, but city staff draws a clear line about who can enforce them. Volunteers are allowed to remove illegal signs only when they are expressly authorized by the Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement. Taking signs from private property without permission can amount to petty theft.
The City of San José posts online guidance on how residents can report suspected code violations and the rules for placing political signs around town.
Campaign Fallout And Next Steps
Ator says the mystery of the disappearing signs has reached the point where he plans to install cameras and file a civil lawsuit over the missing property. Hennessy has also threatened legal action after his April 15 run-in at Bollini’s doorstep.
Both candidates say the steady loss of signs has disrupted their ability to reach voters in the critical weeks before the June 2 primary, forcing them to spend time and money replacing materials instead of knocking on doors.
Legal Implications
City officials warn that unauthorized removal of signs can constitute petty theft, leaving open both criminal and civil avenues. Prosecutors could pursue misdemeanor charges, and campaigns that believe their property was taken or damaged could seek compensation in civil court for lost materials and replacement costs.
For now, the candidates and Bollini are trading accusations and recordings while San Jose police and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office decide what, if anything, comes next.
