HAVERHILL — Several candidates said their campaign signs have been stolen or vandalized as the election draws closer.

School Committee incumbent Joseph Bevilacqua said about 50 of his signs have been damaged or taken.

"It's unfortunate," he said, adding that vandalism to signs usually happens around Halloween, but this year it started much earlier.

City Council incumbent Michael McGonagle and council challenger Leonard Russo also said their signs have been stolen. McGonagle said he lost six in his neighborhood in the last few weeks and that 20 of the 160 he has put out citywide have been taken.

Several re-election signs for council incumbent William Macek are also missing.

Mayor gets two endorsements

In his re-election bid, Mayor James Fiorentini received the endorsement of two unions — the Carpenters Local 111 and Pipefitters Local 537.

"As the product of a working class family, I believe we must continue to fight — now, more than ever — to ensure that the hard working families in Haverhill continue to have a voice in City Hall and that opportunity continues to exist universally," Fiorentini said, adding that he is thankful for the endorsements.

Bevilacqua gets union support

The Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council, AFLCIOP, has endorsed Bevilacqua for re-election to the School Committee.

"They're concerned about working families, advocating for students and the importance of education," Bevilacqua said of the union. "I'm very honored. My message is to provide quality education so kids can be prepared for a career of their choice."

Campaign party a success

City Councilor Mary Ellen Daly O'Brien had more than 60 supporters at a re-election campaign party at Olivia's downtown restaurant on Sept. 20.

She thanked her daughter Julia, her sister Cindy and her close friends for helping to make the event a success.

His personal pledge

Challenger Michael Young vowed to take no pay from the city if elected to the City Council.

He said he will donate the annual pay of $8,000 to local charities.

"I have said all along I don't believe public service or community service should come with a pay check," Young said.

Criticizing a political spat

The disagreement between Fiorentini and officials at Hilldale Cemetery over the city's refusal to pay $800 to erect a fence between a public burial ground for low-income people and the private cemetery has gained one candidate's attention.

City Council challenger Christian Miller said the disagreement over the cost of keeping illegal dumpers out of the cemetery should never have happened — especially over such as relatively low cost.

"The city has sacrificed the dignity of our beloved deceased, and for what - eight hundred dollars," Miller said in a release. "This is entirely an issue of priorities, and considering the insignificant sum that was being mentioned it is unfathomable as to why this is even an issue. ... Please stop letting politics interfere with general human decency."

Far from a trashy subject

City Council challenger Colin LePage is keeping the community informed about the progress of single-stream curbside recycling that is happening two days a week in Haverhill neighborhoods.

LePage is an organizer of the program, which allows residents to put out all recyclable material for collection on their trash pickup day. Before this program, residents could put only paper goods at curbside to be recycled.

LePage issued a release that said neighborhoods putting out their recyclables on Tuesday have doubled their rate reduction of trash — meaning residents along that route are recycling more.

Simple, but effective

City Councilor Kenneth Quimby Jr. said his approach to voters is simple, but it seems to work.

"I've been campaigning door to door since April giving out pens because everyone loves them," he said of the pens that bear his name.

The final word

School Committee challenger Daniel DeRoche said he is not big on press releases, but he did have a message for the community as election day approaches.

"Get out and vote," he said.