OAKLAND — An Oakland City Council candidate who is of Lebanese descent says someone drew a swastika on one of his campaign signs this week in the Piedmont Pines area.
Joseph Tanios, 50, who is seeking to represent District 4, which includes the Montclair, Piedmont Pines, Dimond and Laurel neighborhoods, said in an interview Friday that in the past few weeks some of his campaign signs have been stolen and a few had “Me 2” written on them, though he doesn’t know why.
He didn’t consider the graffiti threatening until Tuesday, when one of his campaigners stumbled upon a sign near Ascot and Chelton drives with a white swastika drawn on it.
“I’m heartbroken,” Tanios said. “I’m so disappointed that we live in a world that’s supposed to be democratic, and we have to deal with this.”
Tanios, who works for the city as an engineering manager, has said in interviews and at forums that his experience as an immigrant from Lebanon is what inspired him to run for office.
“I came from a war-torn country, and this country adopted me, and out of all places, I landed in Oakland. I fell in love with the city,” Tanios told this news organization in April. “I am doing this for passion, and because I care about getting people the services they deserve that they’ve been paying for through bonds and measures.”
Tanios, who is Christian, said he believes the signs were meant to scare him off. He has become good friends with the other candidates and said he doesn’t believe any of them would condone the graffiti.
“These cowards can paint whatever they want, I will not be held hostage, no way,” Tanios said. “I’m really proud to be Lebanese-American citizen, and I will not allow these faceless vandals to degrade the election process. This is Un-American.”
Oakland police officials confirmed they are investigating the incident.
This isn’t the first time anti-Semitic messages have targeted candidates in the Oakland hills. During Libby Schaaf’s 2014 bid for mayor — she was the District 4 council member at the time — fliers showing an image of her with a swastika on her forehead were plastered throughout Montclair.
Tanios is one of six candidates remaining in the District 4 council race. The position was previously held by Annie Campbell-Washington, who announced earlier this year she would not seek re-election. Candidate Charlie Michelson — who many believed to be the front-runner in the race — suddenly dropped out last month; his name will still appear on the ballot.