East Lyme — Democrats and Republicans say they are "standing united" in calling for an end to the removal and vandalism of campaign signs.

Party leaders say that more than 100 signs for various municipal candidates, particularly Democrats, have recently vanished or been destroyed.

Neither party has filed a report with the police, and East Lyme Resident State Trooper Sgt. Wilfred Blanchette III said Thursday he had not received any complaints about missing signs.

However, First Selectman Mark Nickerson, a Republican, has gone to social media on behalf of both parties to appeal for an end to the damage.

Nickerson said he thought it was a sensible approach to inform the public through social media. He said he will also ask the police to step up patrols.

"What's going on with us is quite spectacular, involving a lot of signs all at once," said Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Beth Hogan.

She said she wants to offer a "good faith opportunity" for whoever took the signs to return them to the party's headquarters at the Midway Plaza at 170 Flanders Road before she goes to the police.

Nickerson, who came into office in January and is now seeking a full term, issued a statement Wednesday evening on his Facebook page: "Many political signs have been vandalized or stolen over the past couple weeks for both candidates. Both political parties in East Lyme ask everyone to respect the signs and not touch them. Please understand it is part of the process and the signs deliver excitement and information as we move to Election Day. Respect all candidates who step up in our community and serve us. Thank you."

Hogan said about 100 to 125 signs for Democrats have gone missing within the past few days, beginning on Saturday. She said this is more than the usual number that inevitably disappear in any election cycle.

All the Democratic signs at Route 156 and Black Point Road, except for a couple of large signs, disappeared over the weekend, said Hogan.

She then received complaints about signs missing in other parts of town.

In some cases, she said she has heard complaints that the Democratic signs have been replaced with Republican ones.

Nickerson said about 20 Republican signs were vandalized this week on Sleepy Hollow Road.

He said during this election season he has had to replace about 30 signs from residents' lawns, which they had requested but which later disappeared.

Neither party blamed candidates or members of the opposing town committee for the damaged or missing signs.

Steve Carpenteri, a Democratic Board of Finance member who is running against Nickerson for first selectman, also said people should leave the signs alone.

"I'm not happy about it, because it's not a very good thing to do to candidates who are running for office, no matter who they are," he said.

"We're asking the individual or individuals to please stop and let the process continue," Hogan said.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich