MONROE — A scarecrow dressed as the murderous character in the movie Scream is sitting on a toilet next to a large campaign sign in State Rep. DebraLee Hovey's front yard. A Fan Hill Road neighbor living across the street is not amused.

Patti Campbell filed a complaint with the town Assessor's Office claiming Hovey and her husband, Paul Balsano, finished their basement — adding three rooms and a bathroom — without permits nor a new tax assessment. Hovey denies the allegation.

On Wednesday morning, after Hovey beat Democrat, Michele Mount in a landslide, Campbell saw the Scream figure facing her house, felt threatened, and made a complaint to the Monroe Police Department.

"I'm just scared to death and threatened," said Patricia Campbell, Hovey's neighbor. "I'm not going home now because I'm afraid. These people are bullying me. I'm fearful for my personal being, and property. I am threatened.

"That character looking down my driveway, it's not a pumpkin head, it's Scream's face. That's a killer object at the end of my driveway. One of the first things you learn as a child is that bullying is wrong. Grow up. This is scary. This isn't funny. Not at all."

"It was meant to poke fun at the basement controversy, but also this neighbor has bullied me now for seven years," Hovey said. "She has trespassed. She has done all sorts of things. It was to let steam off in a harmless, fun way."

Hovey said she has never seen the movie Scream.

Police confirmed that Campbell made a complaint claiming Hovey and Balsano were threatening her, adding officers are looking into it.

Hovey said she spoke with police officers.

"The fact that she would go to the police about it shows how ridiculous she is," Hovey said of Campbell. "As a kid, what you learn is, don't dish it out if you can't take it. When Paul comes home from work tomorrow, we'll remove it."

The figure and toilet were put up this morning, next to a Hovey campaign sign thanking voters for their support. Hovey took 62% of the vote Tuesday.

"People were beeping their horns and giving the thumbs up," Hovey said of how passersby reacted to the Scream scarecrow. "It's harmless."

Hovey says people have trespassed onto her property after news of the controversy surrounding her basement. She said she was advised by police to call if anyone ever comes onto their property uninvited.

"I'm sorry I wasted police officers' time with a childish prank, but it will be gone tomorrow," Hovey said of the Scream character.

Tuesday night's election results make Hovey feel vindicated.

She said, "I stuck to the issues and did not get distracted and the people appreciated that with toots and waves."