The Ewing Township races for mayor and town council were well-known on campus because of campaign signs boldly featuring the names "Ball, Ball and Cox."
The campaign of Republicans Jack Ball, Faye Ball (no relation) and Don Cox became a target for jokes among students at the College. Of the three infamously named candidates, only one, Faye Ball, did not win the election.
"The Ball Team," as they called themselves, had their signs stolen throughout the campaign season.
The signs were posted on lawns and beside major roads in Ewing. About 1,200 signs were lost, according to Cox, newly elected Ewing Township councilman.
Cox said that while some of the signs may have been taken by students, there were also "a number of people who were caught who were adults."
Cox said that in some situations he gave signs to students. However, other times a sign that was posted seven or eight times on the same lawn would keep disappearing, according to Cox.
"I'm not upset with the college students who may have taken the signs," Jack Ball, newly elected Ewing Township mayor, said. "I hope they had fun with it."
Ball said he had heard rumors about the signs, but cautioned that he could not confirm any of them.
One of the rumors was that a "Ball, Ball and Cox" sign was spotted as far away as Australia, though Ball was clear to state that he could not confirm this.
In another instance, Ball was told that a friend's son, who attends college out of state, had one of the signs hanging on his dorm room door.
New Jersey radio station 101.5 FM used the sign on its "Dennis and Judy" show. Ball said he called in to the show, whose DJs were "having a little fun with (the sign)."
When asked why people may have taken the signs, Ball said, "I guess it was a combination of the names."
Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations at the College, said that the school knew that students may have been taking the signs. According to Golden, the College received a complaint about the signs being taken down and saw a blog entry alleging that students from the College had taken the signs to their residences.
"We did alert Student Life and Campus Police to the issue," Golden said. "They are not conducting any searches for the signs, but if (the signs) are seen during regular activities, the students in possession will be questioned and could face consequences. To my knowledge, that has not been the case thus far."
When contacted, both Campus and Ewing police had no knowledge of any incidents involving the signs.
On their Web site, ballteam.org, a $100 reward was posted for information regarding the signs. According to Ball, no one came forward to provide them with information that could have helped them determine who was taking the signs.
Since the election has ended, the reward is no longer valid.
Ball took night classes at the College, and he and his wife Marcia are alumni of Trenton State College.
He called himself a mayor who "wants to work with students." Ball, who has been teaching in New Jersey for 40 years, encourages students to contact him with concerns.
