Ethics complaint for Harshbarger sent to attorney general

KINGSPORT – Tennessee’s attorney general is investigating alleged ethics violations by Bobby Harshbarger, a Republican primary opponent of state Sen. Jon Lundberg, and his mother, the U.S. congresswoman from Northeast Tennessee.

Gov. Bill Lee, who campaigned here for Lundberg after a fundraising luncheon Tuesday, said he plans to rely on Lundberg’s help to pass the so-called school voucher bill in the General Assembly next year. .

He also said he was optimistic about his approval even though he did not have enough support this year.

Lee, speaking after a fundraiser at Allandale Mansion and the de facto start of the campaign for Lundberg, R-Bristol, told reporters he will again seek approval of education savings accounts next year because he believes in choice parental.

It would be an expansion of a current voucher program limited to urban areas of the Voluntary State, which depending on the final form could allow public money to be diverted to pay for homeschooling or private school students.

And Lee said he needs Lundberg, whose event drew about 100 people, to return to the state Senate and chair the Senate Education Committee to help spearhead the legislation like he did this year, despite opposition from Northeast school boards. of Tennessee who passed resolutions opposing the legislation, which was also opposed by the Tennessee School Boards Association, the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Professional Educators.

BOBBY HARSHBARGER RUNNING

Kingsport pharmacist Bobby Harshbarger, a member Lee appointed to the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy last year and son of pharmacist and U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-1, is running for the Republican nomination for the District’s Senate seat 4 representing Sullivan and Hawkins counties. . Early voting will take place from July 12 to 27 and the primary elections will take place on August 1.

So far, forums between the two are scheduled for 6 p.m. June 26 at Bristol Motor Speedway’s Bruton Smith Building and 7 p.m. July 2 at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Lundberg’s campaign said Tuesday. .

“You know that it matters a lot who governs. It matters a lot who serves a region. This is an incredibly important part of the state,” Lee said at the event, citing a working relationship with Lundberg and calling him a “tremendous man of character” who understands the values of people in the community who serve the people well.

Lee said that from what he knows of Harshbarger’s campaign, without mentioning his name, it is run, managed and financed by people in the Washington, D.C., area.

ETHICS PROBE

The East Tennessee Republicans PAC behind the text messages was created in April 2023 and funded with $95,000 from the Alexandria, Virginia-based “American Political Coalition.” It lists Thomas Datwyler as treasurer, and Datwyler is also treasurer of Diana Harshbarger’s campaign, in addition to participating in other campaigns.

State Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, filed a complaint April 25 with the Tennessee Registrar of Election Finance requesting an investigation “to determine whether any ethics and/or recordkeeping violations have occurred or are occurring.”

The registry sent the ethics complaint against the son and mother to the state Attorney General’s Office for investigation, which Lundberg said he learned about through a television reporter’s question after the fundraiser. Tuesday, adding that it was “sad” that politics had come to such measures. .

“This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to save Lundberg’s failed campaign,” campaign manager Caleb Rose said in a prepared statement Tuesday night. “He’s calling in all the favors of the Nashville establishment because he doesn’t want voters to see his record of betraying the values of East Tennessee.”

Additionally, Rose provided a statement from Diana Harshbarger’s campaign finance attorney, managing partner Elliot Berkeleys of Berkeleys Farah LLP.

“In my more than 25 years of experience in campaign finance law, I do not believe I have ever seen a more baseless allegation,” Burke’s statement read. “This complaint, which actually has nothing to do with Congresswoman Harshbarger or her campaign, appears to be based on nothing more than insinuations that, even if true, would not amount to a violation of anything.”

Bobby Harshbarger’s campaign website, at https://www.bobbyfortn.com/press, has three links to the Tennessee Conservatives’ website. His mother sent a news release Tuesday saying that former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, had endorsed his re-election bid.

The Tennessee conservative website claims Lundberg helped kill a bill that would strengthen penalties for transporting illegal aliens, helped kill a bill that allowed lawsuits against men who enter a women’s bathroom, and helped kill a bill of a law that prohibited gender or gay pride flags in school classrooms.

“Giving parents a choice in their children’s education is one of the most fundamentally conservative and important things we can do,” Lee said. Every child is different and parents should be able to choose what is best for their children with educational freedom scholarships, Lee said.

“He understands that parents need options,” Lee said. “Tennesseans want this. “We will do everything we can to give it to you.”

When asked by a reporter about opposition to vouchers, Lee said the change will always have critics. “Breaking the status quo is hard,” Lee said, adding that he believes the vast majority of Tennesseans believe school choice is right and that 10 other states have implemented some form of that option in recent years.

“This General Assembly and our office have a history of giving Tennesseans what they want. And there is a strong understanding and belief that the vast majority of Tennesseans think this is the right direction for education. And I hope the General Assembly accomplishes that for the people,” Lee told reporters after lunch.

STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ATTEND

Speakers at the event, in addition to Lee and Lundberg, included House Majority Leader William Lambeth, R-Portland, who served with Lundberg in the House, and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge and a retired pharmacist. Jack Johnson, Republican of Brentwood and Senate Majority Leader, also spoke.

Other attendees included Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy and retired Holston Medical Group founder Jerry Miller, as well as Treasury Comptroller Jason Mumpower of Bristol, a former state representative.

According to a campaign flyer promoting the event, sponsorships for the event were $3,000, while lodging was $1,000, co-hosting was $500, attendance was $250, and contributions were accepted from those who could not attend.

Event hosts included state Reps. John Crawford and Bud Hulsey, both R-Kingsport, Rep. Gary Hicks, R-Rogersville, Phyllis and Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable of Kingsport, former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey of Blountville , Clarinda and former U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, State Sen. Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte, developer Steve Johnson and auto dealer Mitch Walters. Rep. Rebecca Alexander, R-Jonesborough, also attended.

Other hosts included Jerry and Belton Caldwell, Tom Davenport, Veronica and Allen Hurley, Stephanie and Chuck Meade, and Kelly and Jennifer Wolfe. Lundberg is seeking his third four-year term in the Senate and served 10 years in the House before being elected to the Senate.

LEE, MCNALLY, LAMBRETH AND JOHNSON TALK “He agrees, he aligns himself with that thing, which is Upper East (Tennessee). It’s a value, it’s a character, it’s a statesmanship for someone who serves,” Lee said, adding that’s why Senate and House leaders, members and community leaders attended the event.

McNally said he assigned the Education Committee to Lundberg after asking him if he wanted that or the Judiciary Committee and he accepted Education, something he had never offered to a senator before. re.

“You don’t get a (Navy) captain by doing stupid things,” McNally said, citing the way Lundberg has since handled committee meetings, protesters and business. “I really hate that the other one is becoming negative. I don’t think he has anything positive to say, but we have a lot of positive things to say about Jon.”

Lambreth cited Lundberg’s service in the House.

“The best senators are really trained in the House,” Lambreth said with a smile about Lundberg’s time in the House. “He fights hard for conservative values. “He fights hard for this part of the state.”

“I never thought there would be a way to run to Jon Lundberg’s right, but there are people trying to do it.” Conservative before he was cool. Lundberg helped him before Lambreth ran for the House.

Johnson said the Republican Party has been in control since 2011 and helped the state be low-tax and among the safest for the unborn with the help of lawmakers like Lundberg.

“He has the respect of his colleagues,” Johnson said. “It is vitally important that we get Jon back.” Johnson also said that he has seen text messages “lying about this man,” referring to the PAC’s text messages.