Mayor A.J. Massey responds to commissioner’s complaint over campaign claims
MADISON COUNTY, Tenn. — A Madison County commissioner is challenging claims made in Mayor A.J. Massey’s reelection campaign materials, saying the accomplishments listed should be credited to a team effort rather than one person.
Commissioner Gary Deaton issued a formal complaint letter Tuesday to all other commissioners, department heads, and local news sources via email. The complaint letter alleges that Massey misrepresented how county government works and who is responsible for various accomplishments.
The letter states in part that Massey “cannot continue to present these actions in a way that suggests they were accomplished by you alone, or even your office. As a matter of fact, very few of the items listed in your materials can be personally attributed to any one individual.”
Some specific examples Deaton claims were misrepresented are the expansion and placement of school resource officers in local schools, infrastructure improvements, and financial progress for the county.
Mayor responds
Massey offered a rebuttal Wednesday, calling the dispute a “misunderstanding” and saying the county’s success over the last four years is a collective effort made by county employees and elected officials.
“There’s no attempt to claim holistic cause of that. I didn’t do those things on my own,” Massey said. “If you look at the front office staff at a baseball team, if that team wins a world series they get a ring as well. The reason they get a rings is because they contributed to the holistic success of the organization. To say that I don’t have anything to do with anything is false. To say that I have everything to do with everything is also false.”
Massey said he will continue to promote what has been accomplished during the last four years in which he has served as mayor.
His campaign highlights additional school resource officers, over $1.7 billion in industrial investment, the new $48 million Pope Elementary School, and efforts to keep taxes low and drive down the cost of living.
Commissioner defends letter
Deaton said the accomplishments were achieved not because of Massey’s leadership, but because of a plan the county has been following for a long time.
“It was not intended to be political,” Deaton said. “I was just trying to point out to him that he needs to stay in his lane and not take credit for what a lot of department heads should be taking credit for. It’s all a team effort.”
Deaton said Massey has been a good spokesperson for the county, but needs to correct how he presents county accomplishments.
“He’s a good spokes person for the county. He’s done a good job in that area,” Deaton said. “I’m not trying to criticize him. I’m just pointing out the areas that he needs to correct.”
Massey said he has faced opposition during his time in office.
“I’ve been really stonewalled on a lot of decisions and that’s fine but my desire is to work with them,” Massey said. “My desire is to have my side of things seen and heard and they don’t have to agree with it. They don’t have to do it, but I do believe to be a responsible representative of their constituents they need to hear it.”
Massey is seeking reelection after serving four years as county mayor.
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