Complaint filed in Bradley sheriff race

A Bradley County, Tenn., commissioner has filed a complaint with the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office alleging unauthorized use of county equipment for campaign purposes in the sheriff’s race.

Commissioner Dan Rawls said invitations to a February campaign event were emailed from a computer used by Richard McAllister, a friend and top aide to Sheriff Eric Watson.

Watson is seeking re-election and held a chili supper Feb. 3 at Oak Grove Elementary School.

Emailed invitations from rmcallister@bradleycotn.gov said: “You are welcome to attend Sheriff Watson’s Community Wide Chili Supper. Come hear about the award-winning Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and the future of Bradley County Law Enforcement. … Feel free to come say if you [sic] words about your campaign.”

Copies of the emailed invitations were sent to Republican U.S. Senate candidates Marsha Blackburn and Stephen Fincher and GOP gubernatorial hopefuls Randy Boyd, Beth Harwell and Bill Lee. The information was uncovered in public records requests filed by Christians for Accountable Leadership, a political action committee supporting Watson’s opponent.

A state law known as the Little Hatch Act says publicly owned property cannot be used on behalf of political candidates.

District Attorney Steve Crump said Thursday he had received the complaint and was checking state statutes to see how to proceed. He said his office would contact the state attorney general’s office and the Tennessee Election Commission for information and act “as expeditiously as possible.”

Crump said he’s received only one other complaint in this election season so far.

Bradley County Constable Dewayne Hicks has alleged one of his campaign opponents was giving away gifts in return for sharing and liking his Facebook page, Crump said.

“We have reviewed that,” he said. “We don’t believe it’s anything criminal, but it could be campaign finance violations if he didn’t report on his forms.”