A city byelection sign was vandalized Monday night.

One of Kirn Dhillon's 12 campaign signs was spraypainted with the word "Ladhan” on Mountainview Drive. A mustache and turban were drawn on his face.

"It's almost funny,” Dhillon told the Star this morning.

"That person didn't do their research. I'm not even Muslim.”

Even more amusing, said Dhillon, is that the culprit or culprits didn't spell Osama bin Laden's name correctly.

The 35-year-old candidate was born and raised in the Yukon. His parents are Sikh, but he doesn't consider himself to be a religious person.

The first-time candidate said he wasn't surprised when he saw the sign early this morning. He was expecting some sort of shenanigans to happen during the campaign, which will end with Thursday's byelection to replace departed councillor Doug Graham.

"I'm guessing it's a bunch of kids who thought they were being smart but are actually quite ignorant,” the candidate said.

Dhillon said he knew he took a risk by putting his face on his campaign signs. He added he probably wouldn't have been subjected to this kind of vandalism if he had just displayed his name.

"I shouldn't have to hide my racial identity because of the few people who are intimidated by race.”

Dhillon emphasized he doesn't think this sort of thinking is representative of the Whitehorse community.

"I think we're past this point,” he said.

Dhillon planned to take the sign down this afternoon and try to get it fixed.

His eight-by-four-foot signs cost about $170 each. The Elections Act outlaws the theft or vandalism of campaign signs.

Thirteen candidates are running in Thursday's byelection.

See byelection letter