Chances are, when council candidate Jason Phillips gets up in the morning, one of the first things on his mind is how many signs he'll have to replace.

Phillips has been plaqued by signs disappearing, particularly along a stretch of Quigley Drive near the Bethany Cochrane. He's had to replace that particular sign three times in four days and the last time it was removed the stand was broken and several signs of other candidates were scattered across the street.

Each time it costs him $15 for the sign and if the stand is broken it's another $3.

"These are expensive signs," says Phillips. "I'm 90 per cent self-funded, so it adds up, it really does."

He's hoping people will refrain from taking his signs and is asking anyone witnessing the thefts to report them to the town's bylaw department.

While this is the most prevalent situation, there are others.

In one case, a supporter had to take drastic action after their sign was removed from their private property.

"The first one was stolen, so I brought him a second one and he put it on this metal stand and taped it there so it's high up in the air and it's hard to steal."

He's also had one of his large highway signs knocked over. Someone pulled the nails and knocked it over.

Returning officer Jaylene Knight says she has been notified by one candidate that their signs had gone missing and another who reported their signs were being defaced.

Neither the town or Alberta Transportation accept responsibility for signs being damaged or removed and little can be done unless a culprit is witnessed tampering with the signs.

Under the Local Elections Authority Act, person who, without authorization, takes down, covers up, mutilates, defaces or alters any signs could be liable for a fine of up to $200.

You can contact Cochrane's bylaw dept. at 403-851-2532.