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By KASIA KOPEC kkopec@leader.net
Tuesday, March 11, 2003 Page: 3A
ASHLEY – A Hanover Township commissioner candidate’s car was vandalized
Saturday night in what he said is an attempt to intimidate him and keep him
from running for office.
Victor Kopko said two bricks were hurled through the rear window of his
1994 BMW, and all four tires slashed while the vehicle was parked at his
daughter’s residence in Ashley.
The incident occurred a day after Kopko and running mates Frank Ciavarella
Jr., Jerome Dunn and Kim Lloyd, filed a petition to have their names added to
the Democratic ballot.
Brass knuckles were also left on the hood of the car, Kopko said.
“A lot of people in Hanover are making a lot of money off the township’s
taxpayers,” said Kopko. “And I’m not accusing anyone, but I know there are
people who are worried that if I were elected that money would dry up.
“Still it’s really unfortunate someone would stoop to this just to protect
their own interests.”
William Sipper, chairman of the board of supervisors and a Republican, said
he hadn’t heard about the vandalism incident until a reporter told him about
it Monday. Sipper had no additional comment.
Ashley Police Chief David Cerski said the investigation is ongoing.
“We have no leads and no suspects at this point,” said Cerski. “Is it
politically motivated? I couldn’t say one way or another.”
Kopko, however, said he has no doubt someone was sending a message to him
through his daughter.
“Families aren’t immune to this kind of thing,” he said.
Ciavarella also suspects someone associated with the group’s political
adversaries vandalized the car.
“I don’t think they would do it themselves, I hope not,” said Ciavarella.
“But I have no doubt it’s related to our announcement Friday.”
This wouldn’t be the first time a candidate for the township’s board of
commissioners has been targeted.
Three years ago, then-commissioner candidate Pat Aregood, also a Democrat,
discovered the head of a mannequin – eyes gouged out and an imitation bullet
hole in its neck – in his yard.
At the time, Aregood called the prank a moblike attempt to scare him out of
the race.
Kopko said he isn’t intimidated and won’t drop out of the race, though he
is angry his family has been victimized.
“My wife and daughters are understandably upset by the whole thing,” he
said.
Kasia Kopec, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436.