Former state Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith said on her Facebook page that she believes the voting record of House District 30 candidate Esther Helton may have been altered by someone using Photoshop.
She said the voting record of Ms. Helton as a Republican is the same or better than seven current GOP officeholders with "mixed" voting score sheets.
The voting record of Ms. Helton as supplied by the Election Commission office has her using a Democratic ballot in February 2008, August 2010 and March and August 2012.
She asked for a Republican or General ballot in all other elections starting in 1994 through the current election.
Jonathan Mason, who is also in the House 26 Republican race, hit the "wild accusation of election commission tampering".
Mr. Mason said, “It is strange to me that Robin Smith who will be our Republican Party’s nominee in District 26 for State House would question the integrity of the Hamilton County election commission. Yesterday, Smith claimed that “her friend” Esther Helton had only voted in one democratic primary and that the voter record had been altered. This could not be more false. Smith also claimed that she is not being paid by her friend Esther Helton, that could not be more false as to financial disclosure records.
"Holding the voting history of my opponent Esther Helton, who voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, it clearly shows that she has voted in four Democratic primaries from 2008-2012, including both Democratic Presidential primaries during that period. Is Robin Smith being paid to spread false information across our county? I ask that the Hamilton County Election Commission stand up for its integrity and make a statement about these false claims."
Ms. Helton said in a statement, "First, my heartfelt thanks to all who have been great supporters and the voters who’ve given me so much encouragement going door-to-door. Our team has knocked on over 3,000 doors learning of the concerns of our community in East Hamilton County.
"When I cast my first Republican ballot in 1994, I had no idea that I would be running for office one day. I, like most of you, have been a voter who is devoted to my family and providing for them through work. I do not have a straight Republican Party-line voting history. I am a Bona Fide Republican approved by both the Tennessee Republican Party and the Hamilton County Republican Party. There was a time my opponent or his campaign could’ve have challenged this in April, but there was no challenge. I am a proud qualified Republican.
"My voting history has been attacked, but never challenged officially. Now, everything’s a political stunt. Interestingly, many of the same people who applaud the positive campaign in the governor’s race are hurling falsehoods in this race.
"My Christian values as a pro-life mom have been attacked and cast in a lie despite being a 17-year-old mom who chose life and went to vocational school to work as a nurse to provide for my family. My opponent has claimed that I don’t meet the criteria to be pro-life and that I had even refused to meet with a pro-life political action committee. Another lie.
"I’ve been painted as one who voted to use eminent domain in a community growth plan in East Ridge. That, too, is a lie. As a council member in East Ridge, I voted the wishes of the citizens who presented a petition asking for a plan for redevelopment to rid our area of dilapidated properties that are used as drug dens and homes for crime. Through the process, we ended a board’s work when it exceeded the specifications of the objectives. But, there was never a single vote about using eminent domain. Another lie.
"Finally, all the allegations about our team using negative campaigning in this race is yet another lie. Not one penny, not one second of our time has been devoted to anything negative. I have had to work hard as a non-politician to get to know people, learn how to speak publicly and raise money. I have barely had enough to run this race, much less having money to waste on negative ads.
"In my campaign, healthcare has been and is a priority. It’s a difficult topic but one that, as a nurse for 36 years, I know has transformed from a relationship between a doctor and a patient to a transaction controlled by insurance companies. I have said from day one, this is going to be a very important issue to me. That fact has mobilized a lot of other groups to work on my behalf knowing that my vote will not be controlled by the insurance industry. I have not, however, ever participated in any of the negative campaigning.
"I have done my best. Our team has worked incredibly hard. I now respectfully ask for your vote.
"I am Esther Helton, and I do approve this message, because it’s true."
Ms. Smith, who is running for the open House District 26 seat, said on Facebook on Wednesday:
Four days of Early Voting remain with Election Day on Thursday, August 2nd and I'm going to take a a moment to make a few statements about dirty politics.
In Hamilton County, there've been two really dirty races. I am sad to say that I was a candidate in one and now a volunteer (no, I'm not being paid) in a second.
The Party of Lincoln has been the party to all - working to give all the right to vote, men, minorities & women. As a leader in the GOP, I've worked to bring new folks into the Party whose party has left them and to stand on conservative principle.
I'm honored to stand with and support my friend, Esther Helton, in her effort to serve as the House District 30 Representative. She really does possess a proven conservative voting record as a public official and a voter. Yet, you'd never know that if you only read the lies being pushed that question her Christian faith, her pro-life practices & her actual service as an elected official.
One thing I know: those who spend their campaign efforts in negative campaigning don't have experience to tout or a record that wins.
If you want the same old thing, there's a candidate for that. If you want to see public service and results that truly isn't focused on politics, Esther's the candidate I'd highly recommend.