The Union County Sheriff's Office is investigating a swastika painted on a Waxhaw campaign sign belonging to school board candidate Alexis Stadler.

Stadler, who is running for an at-large seat on the Union County Board of Education, discovered the defaced sign in late September, as first reported by Queen City News. Someone had painted a black swastika over one of her yard signs.

Stadler told Queen City News she broke down when she saw it. "I can't believe this is actually happening in the year 2026," she said.

The Sheriff's Office is treating the case as ethnic intimidation. Under North Carolina General Statute 14-401.14, defacing someone's property because of religion, race, nationality or country of origin is a Class 1 misdemeanor. No arrest has been made, and the investigation is ongoing.


Lt. Matthew Winfrey, a spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, told Queen City News that the behavior is not common in Union County and that the office has not seen a rise in such incidents. He added that differing opinions should not cross into criminal behavior or property destruction.

Stadler grew up Roman Catholic. Her husband is Jewish, and she has posted publicly about raising their daughters in both traditions. She told Queen City News she has received anti-Semitic messages during her campaign, including memes targeting her appearance and slurs in online comments.

She said she is taking steps to protect her family but is not dropping out of the race.

Sharon Goldman, a representative of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), condemned the vandalism in an interview with Queen City News. The AJC's annual State of Antisemitism in America Report, released Feb. 10, found that roughly 91% of American Jews say they feel less safe as a result of attacks on Jews in the past 12 months.

Stadler said she asked her opponent, Linda Robinson, to jointly denounce the vandalism. Robinson declined. In a statement to Queen City News, Robinson said she condemns "any and all criminal acts" but accused Stadler of trying to tie her to the incident.

Robinson did not answer Queen City News' questions about why she would not co-sign a joint denunciation.

Early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election begins Thursday, Oct. 15. Residents with information about the vandalism can contact the Union County Sheriff's Office.