By Bruce Barton
Sheriff’s deputies still have no suspects after vandalism done to the properties of three town officials over the weekend of Sept. 28-29. In addition some continue to get threatening phone calls and one council candidate may enlist the services of the FBI.
The victims of last week’s vandalism - Councilwoman Toni Casey, and planning commissioners Bill Kerns and Charles Wong - strongly suspect the acts were politically motivated. All three had hard objects thrown through their front windows just two days after the planning commission recommended approval of a revised town pathways map that eliminated 15 miles of planned off-road paths.
Kerns said he received another threatening phone call Friday. “He said he’s out to get me,” Kerns said of the caller, apparently a man. According to Kerns, the caller stated the vandalism - Kerns had a log thrown through his window - is nothing compared to what will happen next.
The commissioner, who is running for city council in the Nov. 5 election, said he may get the FBI involved because it is a federal offense to interfere with a political campaign.
Meanwhile, Sgt. Terrence Helm of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said no suspects have yet been apprehended in connection with the vandalism. “We’re doing all we can,” he said.
Kerns, along with Casey and Councilman Steve Finn, have all received threatening phone calls recently, in addition to both Casey and Wong having rocks thrown through their windows.
Casey suggested the acts were the result of sour grapes from opponents “because we won the last three elections.”
But at least one of those alleged opponents, the resident group Hills 2000 - Friends of the Hills, condemned the vandalism in a statement last week.
“Hills 2000-Friends of the Hills is shocked and dismayed at the recent vandalism suffered by our city council member and appointees,” read the statement, prepared by Hills secretary Duffy Price. “Hills 2000 or any civic-minded organization in the Town of Los Altos Hills does not condone such alleged actions.
“We understand that many LAH residents are very upset with the current LAH city council and planning commission’s lack of response to residents’ input, but certainly these are not the kind of actions that are acceptable. We expect that this will turn out to be another incident that is most likely the work of juveniles.”
But Kerns and others believe the actions are political because of their timing in conjunction with the threatening calls, the town officials involved and the fact that nothing was taken from any residence as a result of the break-ins.
Kerns also is worried more vandalism will occur when election signs are posted around town. Kerns, along with candidates Steve Hubbell and Janet Vitu, sought an agreement among the five council candidates not to post signs. But candidates Breene Kerr and Dean Warshawsky did not agree to the proposal.
