District 11 school board candidate Virginia Anne Manson of Lookout Mountain attended a rally on the mall near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 - and someone wants everyone to know it.
In the past week, signs have appeared next to Manson's campaign signs that read "Candidate that was at the January 6 insurrection" with an arrow pointing at her sign.
Manson's campaign manager, Dalton Temple, said in a phone call that while Manson did attend the rally, she did not participate in the subsequent siege on the Capitol, which has been the subject of Congressional hearings this month.
Temple said he had not seen the signs himself. He also said rumors that Manson flew to Washington for the rally on a private jet were untrue.
Temple said the candidate would not be available for an interview to answer questions about her trip.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / A knocked-over sign reads "Candidate that was at the January 6 Insurrection" in a similar font and color scheme as Virginia Anne Manson's campaign signs. Manson is running for school board.The Chattanooga Times Free Press reached out to Manson's Democratic opponent in the District 11 race, Jill Black of Lookout Mountian, for her input on the matter.
"Whether the rumors are true or not, we believe it is unfortunate that this issue is taking the focus away from what the school board race is about: the support our students need and teachers deserve," Black said. "Our local political discussions are not enhanced by centering national hot button issues. I am focused on the students of Hamilton County Schools and how best to serve them and our community. We all choose to put our time and effort where our values lie; for me, it's right here at home."
In a statement emailed to the Times Free Press, Temple said Manson's focus is also students and education in Hamilton County.
"As for Virginia Anne's campaign, she has spent every day meeting and talking to voters across the district about parental support in our schools, giving teachers the support they need and are asking for, and getting back to fundamentals in education that will produce Hamilton County's next generation of leaders," Temple said.
District 11 includes Alton Park, East Lake, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Valley and St. Elmo. Manson, Black and Steve McKinney, an independent from Chattanooga, will compete in the general election on Aug. 4 to represent the district.
Contact Carmen Nesbitt at cnesbitt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @carmen_nesbitt.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / A knocked-over sign reads "Candidate that was at the January 6 Insurrection" in a similar font and color scheme as Virginia Anne Manson's campaign signs. Manson is running for school board.