State Rep. Gary Click accused his Republican primary challenger of placing campaign signs on private property without permission in a Facebook post published Tuesday afternoon — less than a week before the May 5 election.
Without naming his opponent directly, Click used a cactus emoji — an apparent reference to Eric Watson of Tiffin — to make the allegation. “Spoke to a farmer this morning who told me that 🌵 is placing signs on people’s property without permission,” Click wrote. “Not only is that unethical it’s also illegal.”
The post included an AI-generated image of a man in overalls holding a “No Trespassing” sign bearing the same cactus emoji.
Watson, reached by TiffinOhio.net for comment Tuesday, denied the accusation and pushed back on the manner in which it was made.
“Let me be clear: I do not put signs on anyone’s property without permission,” Watson said. “I’m a property owner myself, and I respect private property rights. Period.”
Watson said he believes Click may be referring to a situation that had already been resolved before the post was published. “If Gary is referring to the gentleman I spoke with several days ago, that situation was already addressed,” he said. “We had a respectful conversation, cleared everything up, and he knows I never placed anything on his property. That’s not how we operate our campaign.”
Watson also noted that Click has him blocked on Facebook, meaning Watson would not have seen the post without it being brought to his attention. “Apparently he’s comfortable making accusations he thinks I won’t see or respond to,” Watson said.
Watson characterized the post as a distraction from substantive campaign issues. “This is the same kind of baseless stuff I’ve come to expect,” he said. “Instead of focusing on real issues, he’s pushing rumors. I’m focused on the voters and doing things the right way.”
Attempts to reach Click for comment were unsuccessful.
Click and Watson are competing in the Republican primary for Ohio House District 88 on May 5. Click has held the seat since 2021. Democrat Aaron Jones is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and will face the Republican winner in November.
