Portsmouth woke up to a mystery this weekend—and it wasn’t about politics, potholes, or pothouses. It was about a bench.
On Saturday, the Scioto County Democratic Party posted a photo of an empty slab on Eighth Street where their familiar advertising bench used to sit. Their caption didn’t mince words: “They didn’t just take our ad, they stole the whole bench.”
The group shared photos of the missing seat, which advertised: “You’re not the only Democrat in the County. Join us @ sciotodems.org.” The party hinted that the disappearance was politically motivated.
Exclusive Interview With the Bench Owner
But here’s where our coverage goes beyond social media speculation: SCDN spoke exclusively with the actual owner of the bench, Courtesy Advertising. A company representative told us he’s just as baffled as the Democrats.
“I’ve been out of town, so I don’t know who took it,” he said. “Whoever did, though, had to do some heavy lifting—the bases weigh around 400 pounds.” He stressed that Courtesy had permission from the property owner to keep the bench in place, and it had sat in that same spot for decades without issue.
The company confirmed that it wasn’t the Democrats’ property to report stolen in the first place, which may explain why no theft report appeared in the Portsmouth Police log over the weekend. The representative promised to look into the situation now that he’s back in town.
Politics, Property, and Punchlines
Speculation quickly turned toward city hall, since Portsmouth previously considered banning advertising benches over concerns about their condition, liability, and use by the homeless population. But there’s no evidence—yet—that city services hauled it away.
Meanwhile, jokes about the missing bench flew around social media. Not everyone was laughing—some commenters pointed out that theft, regardless of politics, isn’t funny.
The Political Undercurrent
For the Democrats, the symbolism stung. Once dominant across Scioto County, their party has lost ground to Republicans at the county and state levels since the early 2000s. But Portsmouth itself remains a Democratic stronghold.
While city council is technically nonpartisan, most members have identified with the Democratic Party—including former Mayor and current First Ward Councilman Sean Dunne. Ironically, Dunne is now suing fellow Democrats on council, including current Mayor Charlotte Gordon and Vice Mayor Lyvette Mosely.
Still, as the Scioto County Democrats’ post made clear, they see the missing bench as proof they’re not alone: “We’re here, we’re your neighbors, and we’re not going anywhere.”
As of now, no one knows if the bench was stolen, scrapped, or simply relocated. But in Portsmouth politics, even a missing place to sit can turn into a hot seat.
