TOWN OF WALLKILL – The Republican candidate challenging Wallkill Supervisor Frank DenDanto is accusing him of using a Town worker to remove political signs and is calling for him to resign over the alleged misuse of town resources.
Jill Wilkins alleges that DenDanto, a Democrat, instructed a Town of Wallkill building and code enforcement worker to remove about 15 of her signs Thursday afternoon on Tower Drive. Most of the signs were critical of DenDanto’s proposed 64% tax increase in the 2027 budget.
Removing political signs can be punishable as a misdemeanor under State Penal Law and Election Law.
“I would like Frank to resign, or he can be defeated at the polls,” said Wilkins, who said several of her other political signs have been removed throughout the town, costing her about $1,000. “This is America, not some communist country. We have First Amendment rights. This is misappropriation of power and political interference.”
DenDanto denied orchestrating the removal of the signs.
“I did not (order the signs to be removed),” DenDanto said. “But I’m not surprised that this is the angle. They have nothing to stand on. Although you could ask Jill, on my behalf, to debate. She has refused so far.”
Wilkins fired back at DenDanto.
“I would like Frank to show some integrity and moral character and admit what he did,” she said. “He isn’t telling the truth and is trying to deflect and lie. That is his problem; Frank always spins things. If he doesn’t give me my signs back, I want him prosecuted.”
A law enforcement source told Mid-Hudson News that if an arrest is made, the building and code enforcement worker likely would not be prosecuted. However, the person who instructed the worker to remove the signs could face charges.
Ray Merriman, a Republican candidate for the Town of Wallkill Town Board, said he was driving on Tower Drive Thursday between 2 and 3 p.m. when he saw the building and code enforcement worker driving a town SUV with its trunk open and filled with Wilkins’ signs.
Merriman followed the worker and questioned him about removing the signs. According to Merriman, he asked the worker whether his supervisor or other superiors had told him to remove the signs. The worker replied, “Yes,” per the video.
Al Vance, the town’s building inspector, did not return a message seeking comment for this story.
Merriman filed a police report with the Town of Wallkill, which Wilkins said referred the matter to State Police. State Police did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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