The chairwoman of the Hamilton County Republican Party has filed a complaint against Democratic state Rep. Tommie Brown, saying Brown illegally made campaign phone calls from her legislative office.
Brown calls the complaint bogus.
Republican Party Chairwoman Delores Vinson filed the complaint with the state Election Commission, saying that automated calls -- also known as robo-calls -- were made Tuesday from Brown's Nashville office.
Brown, D-Chattanooga, is running for re-election in District 28. The election is Tuesday.
Vinson cites a state law that prohibits the use of public offices and public telephones "for partisan, political election campaign activities."
"People don't look highly on elected officials who use state time and equipment for their own needs," Vinson said in an interview. "This is about her putting her needs in front of those of her district."
According to the complaint, several people who received the calls about 7 p.m. Tuesday said the number of Brown's legislative office came up on their caller ID.
Brown said Friday her campaign calls are made from Chattanooga and were set up by the Democratic Party. She said no calls came through her Nashville office.
Brown called the complaint a pre-election ploy.
"I think they're [the Republican Party] just trying to make trouble," she said.
Contact staff writer Jeremy Belk at jbelk@times freepress.com or 423-757-6345.