Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski of Portage County, Ohio, called for residents to record the addresses of neighbors who had Kamala Harris support signs in their yards.
In identical posts to his personal and public Facebook accounts on Sept. 13, Zuchowski used dehumanizing, racist language in describing “illegals” as “locust,” who could find refuge with Harris supporters who could house them.
On his personal Facebook page, various comments came in, one with the name and street of someone with a Harris sign. “I’ll add that name to the list,” another replied. Someone else commented, “Making a list and checking it twice.”
The reaction from residents and county officials was intense, with people saying they were filing complaints with state and federal agencies, members of Congress and the ACLU.
One Portage County Commissioner, Tony Badalamenti, criticized the sheriff’s post and announced his resignation from the county’s Republican Central Committee.
- “[Zuchowski] posted that we should all copy down the addresses of the people that display political signs which are different from our beliefs,” Badalamenti said. “It scares people. It’s called bullying, from the highest law enforcement official in Portage County.”
- “I have a sign in my yard. Our sheriff is asking MAGA to write down our addresses. This is not normal and it is scary,” one person said.
- Another expressed concern for her parents: “My parents are elderly and have been very politically active Democrats. I am afraid for them now. I don’t want to scare them or suggest they take down their signs, but I am sick to my stomach with worry.”
Portage County Democratic Party Chair Denise Smith encouraged voters to respond at the polls.
Smith said the Portage County Democrats have distributed around 750 Harris yard signs and that residents had been calling her on Saturday. Several told her they were reporting the sheriff’s comments to the attorney general, she said.
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 issue in Portage County.
