Opposites Attract During Special Election

While their politics may differ, two Mt. Sinai residents campaigning outside of Mt. Sinai High School Tuesday not only got along, but also said they would fight for each other's rights to be there.

Bob Rein arrived at the high school around 10 a.m. with his sign to “Vote Republican” during the special election between Martin Haley and Sarah Anker. Rein  made sure he stood in front of the sign labeled “no campaigning beyond this point.”

This isn’t the first year Rein has done this, and he even had a run in with the police last November.

“Last year they tried to have me arrested for holding a sign,” Rein said. “I believe that unless we exercise this right we’re going to lose it. People argue with me and ask me why I am here and I point to my authorization, which is the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

Henry Ellis, decided to join and show his support for the Democratic Party in response to Rein, and the two…got along quite well.

“What he is saying is absolutely right,” Ellis said. “He’s got every single right to be exactly where he is. He's right, I showed up because he was here, plain and simple. People should know that she (Sarah Anker) has as many people out stomping for her as he (Martin Haley) has for him. As far as us being here I’m in complete agreement with Bob.”

Rein said the sign designating a restricted area for campaigning was on the other side of the sidewalk when he got here this morning but when they (election coordinators with Mt. Sinai) saw him outside, they moved the signs further from the school.

“The issue is that we should be free without harassment to express our opinions in a lawful way, so that’s why I’m out here,” Rein said. "This is the freedom of expression that we have that we should respect. I have had people that object to me being here, I just point to the Constitution and tell them to go complain inside.”

Rein said the police came last year and threatened to arrest him. He told them they could if they didn’t like where he was, but they did not.

“If the police came, I would get arrested for Bob because he has every right to be here,” Ellis said. “I don’t agree with his politics, but he has every right.”

While what Ellis and Rein were doing may be considered controversial to some, their differing political views did not get in the way of their shared beliefs.

“I’ll defend to…the point of being beaten up at least, the right to be here,” Ellis said with a laugh.

“I’d defend Henry too,” Rein said. “ That’s all we have and if we don’t have the rule of law and respect for the Constitution then we have nothing left.”