CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- A candidate for one of the Bradley County Commission's Fourth District seats alleged Monday that he and his father have been threatened with physical harm.
T. Stacy Hayes made the statement Monday during the public comment period at the end of the commission's meeting. Fourth District incumbents, Jim Smith and Howard Thompson, quickly argued that Mr. Hayes' comments were hearsay and political.
Mr. Hayes did not name names in the meeting, but later in a phone interview said that Mr. Smith was the one who had made the threats.
"We have been told that me, my dad and another one running out here are going to get whipped after the election is over," Mr. Hayes said by telephone. "When it comes to personal, and politics, I keep it separate."
Later Monday, J. Adam Lowe, the fourth candidate in the Fourth District race, issued a statement alleging that he also has been threatened.
After the commission meeting, Mr. Smith said he never told Mr. Hayes that he was "going to whip him and his daddy."
"I am tired of these allegations," Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Lowe said he was told by Mr. Hayes that Mr. Smith had threatened to assault him.
"Commissioner Jim Smith allegedly stated to Mr. Hayes that he planned to assault me," Mr. Lowe said.
Mr. Smith acknowledged that he did make a comment to Mr. Hayes about Mr. Lowe last week during a community meeting on plans for the new Park View Elementary School.
"I said if he (Mr. Lowe) jumps in my face again I will slap the dog water out of him," Mr. Smith said.
All four are running in the Republican primary. Voters will choose two. There are no Democratic Party candidates for the seats, so the winners of the primary election will win the seats.
Mr. Lowe said he videotaped the confrontation Monday at the commission meeting.
Mr. Thompson, who was not mentioned in the candidates' allegations, said the confrontation should not have been allowed to happen. When Mr. Hayes introduced himself at the microphone as a candidate, the meeting should have been stopped, he said.
It is the second time during the campaign that accusations have been made by Fourth District candidates.
Last month, Mr. Lowe said he videotaped a man who was taking down his political signs.
At the time, Mr. Smith said a property owner had objected to Mr. Lowe's sign in his yard. Mr. Smith said he sent a man to take down Mr. Lowe's sign in that property owner's yard, but the man proceeded to take down more of Mr. Lowe's signs on his own.
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