Campaign Signs Stolen, Suspect Caught: Why Respect and Integrity Matter in Ontario's Election

Over the past several weeks, campaign signs supporting my candidacy for Ontario City Council District 3 have been stolen from locations where homeowners had explicitly authorized their placement. These are not signs on public medians or contested spaces — they are on private residential property, placed with the full knowledge and permission of the homeowners who live there.

I want to address this directly, because this is not simply a campaign matter. It is a matter of respect for Ontario residents and their right to express their political views on their own property.

Thanks to video evidence and the diligence of residents who reported what they witnessed, a suspect was identified in connection with the theft of campaign signs. I am grateful to the residents who came forward and to the Ontario Police Department for their role in this process.

The suspect has since turned themselves in to the Ontario Police Department. I will not characterize the legal status of this matter beyond that established fact — no charges, convictions, or formal legal determinations should be inferred from this article unless and until they are confirmed through appropriate channels. The matter is now in the hands of law enforcement, and I trust that process.

What I can say is this: the evidence was credible, the right steps were taken, and accountability is now underway.

A social media search of the suspect's name revealed profiles matching their description in which the individual identifies themselves as a union nurse. I want to be clear: I have not independently verified that person's professional licensing or current employment through those profiles alone. I am reporting only what is publicly visible on those accounts.

As the founder and CEO of Care Staffing Professionals, I have spent years recruiting, managing, and supporting healthcare professionals — including nurses. I know firsthand the trust that communities place in people who work in healthcare. Nurses are among the most respected professionals in our society, and they earn that respect through compassion, integrity, and service.

That is precisely why I am personally disappointed that an individual who publicly identifies with that profession would be implicated in conduct of this nature. Stealing campaign signs is not a minor inconvenience. It is an attempt to suppress the political voice of homeowners who chose to support this campaign. It is inconsistent with the values of public service that healthcare professionals represent.

I am not suggesting that the nursing profession — union or otherwise — bears any responsibility for the alleged actions of one individual. I am simply noting that the values we expect of those who serve the public — in healthcare, in law enforcement, in public office — must be consistent, not selective.

I have also received reports from residents regarding a separate matter involving campaign sign placement.

Several homeowners have reported incidents in which signs promoting District 3 candidate Larry Trinidad were positioned in front of or near existing Lampkin campaign signs. One homeowner reported that Trinidad, who is also a nurse, was in the process of placing his campaign sign in the homeowner's yard — without having asked permission — when the homeowner came outside and asked what he was doing. According to the homeowner, Trinidad only explained his purpose after being confronted.

I am including this account because residents brought it to me and because transparency is a core value of this campaign. However, I want to be unambiguous:

I currently have no evidence that Larry Trinidad, his campaign, or any other candidate was involved in the theft of my campaign signs. The residents' reports concerning sign placement and the documented theft are separate matters, and I will not suggest otherwise without credible evidence.

Candidates have the right to place signs in authorized locations. Residents have the right to ask anyone to leave their property. These are distinct situations, and I will not conflate them.

When a homeowner places a campaign sign in their yard, they are exercising a fundamental right — the right to publicly support the candidate of their choice. Stealing or obstructing that sign is not a political act. It is a violation of private property and an attempt to silence a neighbor.

Ontario faces real challenges: traffic and infrastructure on our growing streets, public safety resources that need to keep pace with our population, responsible development that serves existing residents, and community services that reach every neighborhood. None of those challenges are solved by taking a sign out of someone's yard.

Every candidate and every supporter should comply with applicable campaign sign regulations and, more importantly, with the basic standard of respecting their neighbors.

I entered this race because I believe Ontario deserves leadership that shows up before election season — not just when votes are being counted.

Long before I filed my candidacy papers, I was serving on the Ontario Planning Commission, reviewing development applications that shape the future of this city. I was running the D'Andre Lampkin Foundation, providing scholarships, mentorship, and community programs for Ontario families. I was building Care Staffing Professionals, creating jobs and delivering healthcare services in the Inland Empire. I was working alongside law enforcement, fire, and emergency services professionals who protect this community every day.

That record does not disappear because someone stole a yard sign. But it does remind me — and I hope it reminds voters — that character is not something you perform during a campaign. It is something you demonstrate over years of consistent action.

If you witness suspicious activity involving campaign signs — any candidate's signs — please report it to local authorities. Protecting the integrity of our elections is a shared responsibility.

If you have already placed a Lampkin sign and experienced any interference, please contact our campaign so we can document it appropriately.

And on November 3, please vote. Your voice matters far more than any sign.

Ontario deserves leaders who compete on ideas, not intimidation. I am committed to running that kind of campaign — and to governing that way if you give me the honor of serving District 3.

D'Andre D. Lampkin is a candidate for Ontario City Council District 3, a former Ontario Planning Commissioner, founder of the D'Andre Lampkin Foundation, and CEO of Care Staffing Professionals. Learn more at lampkinforontario.org.

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