Jonathan Mason
Esther Helton, 56, is seeking District 30 GOP primary nominationNASHVILLE – Republican Jonathan Mason is coming under attack in the state House District 30 GOP primary race as being in the “Pocket of Big Insurance Companies.”
But the direct-mail assault that’s been hitting mail boxes in Chattanooga, East Ridge and East Brainerd isn’t coming from his GOP rival Esther Helton in their Aug. 2 primary race. Or even Joda Thongnopnua, the expected Democratic nominee.
Instead, the circular slam is coming from a leadership political action committee, CAS PAC, that belongs to Republican state House Republican Majority Leader Glen Casada of Franklin, Tennessee.
Casada is backing Helton in the contest to replace state Rep. Marc Gravitt, R-East Ridge, who is seeking to become Hamilton County’s next register of deeds. It’s part of a bold move by Casada to back specific candidates in open seats as he seeks to become the Tennessee House’s next speaker.
Mason works for Chattanooga-based Unum, the nation’s top disability insurer, which also offers other insurance coverage including accident, critical illness and life. While not mentioning Unum, the mailer charges Mason is “Literally In The Pocket of Big Insurance Companies. His Interests Are Their Interests – Not Yours!”