By Randall Higgins
rhiggins@timesfreepress.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Some of the most intense moments in the Republican primary race for Bradley County mayor have had nothing to do with hefty issues like education or economic development.
Incumbent D. Gary Davis, County Commissioner Lisa Stanbery and businessman Chris Weir are seeking the nomination in Tuesday’s voting.
The side issues include e-mails sent by county school board chairman and vice chairman endorsing candidate Lisa Stanbery. That drew criticism from board member Troy Weathers and others, who questioned the propriety of sending the e-mail to teachers at their school e-mail addresses.
TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm said Friday that investigation continues into whether sending the e-mails violated campaign regulations.
All three candidates refuted a rumor that if a certain one is elected, Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency buses could stop. SETHRA assured riders that will never happen.
Arguments raged on radio and the Internet whether individual veterans have the right to endorse a candidate after some posed for a photo with Mrs. Stanbery, and whether the local tea party actually endorsed her.
All three candidates were asked to respond to the stories.
In a written response, Mr. Weir decried misinformation and rumors.
“It is very tempting to make use of manufactured and controversial tactics that are responsible for exploiting various groups for personal gain. That type of manipulation is shameful,” Mr. Weir wrote. “We talk about honor and respect for each other, yet the spreading of untruths designed to intimidate, mislead, and manipulate the votes of people, have become part of the landscape.”
Mrs. Stanbery’s response claimed endorsements from the tea party and local veterans and asserted that veterans who endorsed her were “belittled, intimidated and harassed personally, publicly on blogs and over the phone.”
Asked why the stories got so much attention from political followers, if not the public, Mrs. Stanbery said that “without a local professional media outlet acting as the citizens’ watch dog, most people are relegated to the blogosphere where anything can become reality.”
Mr. Davis’ written statement cited his pride that the SETHRA bus service was developed during his tenure. He called it “an important service for Bradley County citizens” that is “being utilized more every day.”
“Both the Tea Party and veterans’ endorsement issues have been discussed at length in local media and on the web. I don’t believe there is anything more I can add to the discussion other than to say it appears to have been discredited,” Mr. Davis’ statement said.