As the August election approaches, tensions are rising between the two political camps as incumbent Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin faces challenger Steve Giordano in the race for mayor. The incidents prompted the Port St. Lucie Police Department to launch investigations into two separate cases involving campaign signs, one of which led to a confrontation.
During the overnight hours Friday, Aug. 7, Giordano told CBS12 News that he and his campaign manager were putting up signs near Southwest Airoso Boulevard and Southwest Thornhill Drive. Giordano said he saw a man remove a sign from the ground and throw it. Giordano then grabbed his cellphone and began recording the encounter.
The man appears to be Shannon Martin's husband, Aaron Martin, a lieutenant with the Port St. Lucie Police Department. Video shows a profanity-laced confrontation between Giordano and Martin, with the two shouting at each other and making accusations about campaign signs being placed in the community without property owners' permission.
Police said investigators learned that one homeowner had given permission for one campaign sign to be placed on the property, while another resident of the home, who has limited English proficiency, told members of the opposing campaign they could also place a sign there. Investigators said the language barrier contributed to the confrontation over the campaign signs and whether the previously placed sign could be moved or removed. At this time, police said there is no indication that any campaign signs involved in the incident were stolen or intentionally damaged.