COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Commissioner Rich Piazza was driving through Hayden and Dalton Gardens when he noticed something was missing.

Signs. Specifically, his campaign signs.

"They're not blown over, they're gone, completely," he said Friday afternoon.

Large numbers of Piazza's signs for his District 3 re-election, along with those of fellow Commissioner Rick Currie and challenger Jai Nelson turned up missing this week.

Nelson said she noticed a few were gone early in the week, and by Friday morning, more than 100 had disappeared in Dalton Gardens, Hayden and Post Falls. She believed most were taken Thursday night. All of the signs were on private property, with permission of the homeowner, she said.

The signs cost about $5 to $7 each, so the loss is significant, said Nelson, who is running against Currie for District 2 commissioner.

"It's rather disheartening and it's unfortunate," she said. "It's disappointing, especially to all my supporters who donated and helped purchase the signs."

Currie said he had at least 50 signs stolen this week. His were also on private property with permission from the owners. He said he understands some people don't like political signs, but they are part of the campaign process.

"Obviously, it's disappointing," Currie said. "We would think that people would be above the fray."

He said considerable effort goes into campaign signs, from buying them to getting the permit to put them up and then distributing them.

"This is a major expense that has to be addressed," he said.

Piazza said he wasn't sure how many signs were taken. He hopes to replace them, but like Nelson and Currie, he's upset by the theft.

"All I know is, they're gone," he said.

All three candidates said they would like to have the signs returned.