Campaign shenanigans during school board election season in Lexington-Richland 5 are as common as pumpkins on front porches this time of year.

No one knows that better than Wayne Duncan of Chapin, a self-proclaimed political neophyte who landed in hot water earlier this week with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Duncan is suspected of tampering with a sign promoting incumbent Robert Gantt of Irmo. Duncan supports Gantt’s opponent, Kim Murphy of Chapin.

The incident is among a flurry of electioneering tactics attracting attention in District 5 as candidates and supporters jockey to influence races. The competition is tight, with four incumbents facing stiff challenges. The activities in question also include e-mails sent to school employees and a mass mailing from a nonprofit organization that advocates less government oversight.

Richland Sheriff Leon Lott said his agency took the sign tampering complaint seriously. “I want to send a message. This stuff has got to stop,” he said.

Duncan was confronted a week ago by a District 5 teacher, who said she saw him dismantling a Gantt sign on private property near Dutch Fork Elementary School. Duncan said he was carrying out a request from Murphy’s husband, who Duncan said told him the property owner wanted Gantt’s sign removed.

Duncan acknowledged Wednesday he made a mistake. He noted the incident occurred at 4:30 p.m. in full view of passing motorists on a busy thoroughfare.

Kim Murphy characterized the episode as a miscommunication between two relatives who apparently had differing views about allowing candidates’ use of their property.

“I try to play by the rules,” Murphy said.

Lt. Joe Pellicci said investigators have not decided whether to recommend charges.

If the Sheriff’s Department concludes a crime occurred, Gantt said he would have to decide whether to pursue charges.

Duncan could face charges of petty larceny or malicious injury to property, both misdemeanors, Lott said.

The Gantt-Murphy race has been a hot topic in the Irmo-Chapin area since Murphy filed for the seat, which pays $3,750 a year. Murphy and Gantt say their campaigns have been plagued by sign theft and vandalism.

In late September, the state Ethics Commission alerted District 5 leaders that it was aware of alleged electioneering on school grounds and using school equipment, primarily at Dutch Fork High School. All inferred the activities favored Gantt, whose wife works at the school.

Gantt denies directing anyone affiliated with District 5 schools to do anything that would give his campaign an advantage over Murphy.

“That’s not how I operate,” he said.

Gantt also is the object of a mailing paid for by South Carolinians for Responsible Government. It reminds recipients the incumbent is at the center of allegations made to the Ethics Commission.

“We’re interested in more efficient and responsible government,” spokesman Denver Merrill said. “That isn’t exclusive to state government.”

The organization formed in 2003 to support Gov. Mark Sanford’s proposal to give tax credits to parents of children educated outside public schools.

“It was incumbent on us to inform and educate other folks in the district how their tax dollars are potentially going to be spent,” Merrill said.

The group, which Merrill said rents office space in Columbia from political consultant Richard Quinn, acted independently and did not seek Murphy’s endorsement or permission before the mailing went out.

Merrill said the organization plans to distribute another mailing, urging recipients to call Gantt and incumbent Cindy Sweigart, who have voted for property tax increases in the past. Incumbent Paula Hite, who has opposed tax increases, is not mentioned.

In another matter, Jerry Fowler of Chapin, running for one of three seats reserved for Lexington County residents on the Nov. 2 ballot, drew the ire of District 5 educators for electronic messages he sent this week to their computers at work.

One praised teachers for their hard work and promised “help is on the way.” A second offered what he called a “sincere explanation” about why he sent the first e-mail.

District 5 spokesman Buddy Price said he told Fowler his actions were inappropriate.

The Ethics Commission issued an advisory in 2003 that says campaign-related e-mails sent to a public employee and received on a government computer violate ethics laws.

“I did not send them anything asking for a vote,” Fowler said. “It was just a ‘thank-you’ for what you’ve done.”

Reach Robinson at (803) 771-8482 or brobinson@thestate.com.