Campaign sign defaced with profanity
Men vs. women. Police say they're investigating vandalism in the western NC town of Spruce Pine and are now offering a $150 reward.
A local municipal election in the western North Carolina town of Spruce Pine is quite literally men vs. women. Spruce Pine police said on October 26 that they’re investigating an incident of “vandalism” and are offering a “$100 reward.” Today they increased it to $150. Spruce Pine, located in Mitchell County, is holding its municipal election a week from today.
A political campaign sign was defaced with graffiti with the words, “3 CUNTS,” sprayed over the women’s faces. Kimberly Hageman, a candidate for Spruce Pine town council, posted the above image on October 14, 2023. “I am posting this image to show the immaturity of our opposition. When faced with difficult questions about past dealings and performance, they result to name-calling and mudslinging. They rise to defend their records with the demeanor of schoolyard bullies. Their word choice speaks to the fact that this is not only political, but is a misogynistic attempt to suppress women’s voices in this community. This is an attempt to intimidate the more than 50% of our community’s female population through hate-filled language. This is the ugly truth. I have approached running for office with integrity and dignity, and I am saddened to see that the opposition is so clearly unable to do the same,” she wrote.
“Cunt” is a vulgar word for the vulva or vagina. It is used in a variety of ways, including as a term of disparagement. It is one of the few words left which has a genuine power to shock people. I am writing this definition for a good reason, it is important to the context of the story related to an election. Writing it out, rather than simply sharing the image, serves a few purposes. My readers with disabilities who use screen readers can’t view the image text without the words being written out, and “to be classy without being Victorian, in line with the evolving language.”
I have not seen any publicly available evidence to suggest that the opposing candidates are responsible. Spruce Pine police said in a Facebook post, “$150 Reward for any information leading to the identification or arrest in the investigation of the vandalism on Oak street (sic) regarding political signs being damaged. Please contact the Spruce Pine Police Department at 828-765-2233.” It is widely believed it is in reference to the female candidates’ sign. Spruce Pine Police Chief Kasey Cook did not respond to a voicemail and email requests for comment from Cops & Congress.
The local newspaper, the Mitchell News-Journal, wrote in August, “A trio of local women— Lynn Nelson Holler, Sharon McIntosh and Kim Hageman— have grand visions for the future of Spruce Pine and have thus filed to run for public office in the next election. The three filed right away when registration for the election opened this past month. Holler will run for Spruce Pine mayor while McIntosh and Hageman will be on the ballot for seats on the town council. The trio cited their main goals as solving local economic and housing stagnation, water and sewer issues, overhauling ordinances, and opening Spruce Pine up for business.”
In a profile of the male candidates, the MNJ wrote, “Spruce Pine’s Phillip Hise, Wayne Peight and Rocky Buchanan have fresh ideas to bring to the local government and have filed for public office in the hopes of making them come to life. Hise is running for mayor against Lynn Holler. Peight and Buchanan are aiming for seats on the town council along with challengers Sharon McIntosh and Kim Hageman. Buchanan currently sits on the council and seeks re-election. Hise, a lifelong Spruce Pine resident, brings plenty of experience. He previously served on the town council for 17 years, including two terms as mayor. Hise was also the town’s public works director until retiring in 2022.”
Women earned the right to vote in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Current Spruce Pine Mayor Darla Harding chose to not run for re-election. She is married to Mitchell County Commissioner Jeff Harding.
I have not seen publicly available evidence that Peight and Buchanan commented about the vandalism. A day after Hageman’s post, Hise posted the above image comparing the Spruce Pine election to biblical verses. He wrote, “Pray & vote…We need leaders who fear God. (Exodus 18:21)” That bible verse states, “…place such men over the people as chiefs…” (Emphasis added by Cops & Congress.)
At one time, Mitchell County NC state Senator Ralph Hise’s district also covered Rutherford County. Ralph Hise is a former mayor of Spruce Pine. His uncle is Phillip Hise. For more information about the current election and to look at previous election data, visit ncsbe.gov. Municipal elections are not happening this year in Rutherford County due to SB 265. Rutherford County municipal elections moved to even-numbered years. Spruce Pine is located near the Blue Ridge Parkway and is one of the largest towns between Asheville and Boone, about an hour north of Rutherfordton.
Data shows there are more female than male registered voters in NC. Find more information from trusted voting resources.
Editor’s note: I have used the term “publicly available evidence” because some debate has been in private Facebook groups, including Let’s Talk Spruce Pine and Let’s Talk Mitchell County.
Cops & Congress by Annie Dance is a service journalism newsletter, focusing on police, policy, and public records in the Lake Lure area of western North Carolina. It is free to read, but it is not free to produce. Please click on the button below to support my work.
Thank you for your support.
📰 You, the readers and donors make this independent, community-supported, public-service journalism possible. Help keep this newsletter free.
☕️ ⛽️ I would be grateful if you ”buy me a coffee or a gallon of gas” to help me inform you by covering the important issues of Rutherfordton and Lake Lure (and beyond) with funding! Donate here. For further inquiries, including tips, suggestions, in-kind support, or sponsorships, email CopsandCongress@gmail.com.
Follow me on X (Twitter), Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Learn more about this newsletter and my background.