Critics of Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman should stop trying to taint him with unsubstantiated tales. Their tactic is making them look petty and taking attention away from whatever real concerns might exist with Berman’s bid for re-election.

If you have read the comments section below the local news stories at eastvalleytribune.com in the past week, you’ve see someone post a claim that Berman’s wife, Michelle, has told police that the mayor arranged for some campaign signs to be stolen. In fact, Michelle Berman has gone to the police several times in the past year about her marriage. Steve Berman received a lot of negative publicity in the Tribune and elsewhere when her allegations first came to light, and he temporarily had to turn over his collection of firearms to authorities.

But Steve Berman has never been arrested or criminally charged with anything, even as Michelle Berman keeps coming up with new stories.

It’s election season, and Steve Berman’s opponents apparently believe even hints of a new scandal will push Gilbert voters to one of his five challengers. Someone has anonymously posted a copy of the police report online and one or more people keep referring to the alleged sign stealing in the Tribune comments section.

What these critics are doing is protected by the First Amendment. But it’s rumor-mongering, plain and simple. Furthermore, it gives the impression that Berman’s opponents have few legitimate reasons to object to his re-election, so they have to use salacious attacks instead.

It’s a tactic that easily could (and perhaps should) backfire as voters typically weigh the actual merits of the various candidates for the mayor of Gilbert.