- Ahead of the March 5 referendum, state Rep. Robert Stevens sent a letter to the Board of Elections asking Smyrna voters whether the town should abolish the federal court, which his sister presides over. .
- Mayor Reed accuses Congressman Stevens of pursuing 'personal vendetta'
- Mayor McFarland says construction partners were working on rezoning the Smyrna development before making the donation.
- Mayor Reed supports McFarland's development briefing
The mayors of Murfreesboro and Smyrna and their political action committees will have more time to respond to requests from state Rep. Robert Stevens for campaign finance audits and investigations.
In a Jan. 25 letter, the Republican congressman from Smyrna asked the Tennessee Office of the Campaign Finance Registrar to investigate three campaign finance accounts. The main issue concerns a November 2022 donation of $7,500 from Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland to a political action committee calling for greater accountability for Tennesseans. The PAC immediately contributed $7,500 to Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed's campaign account, Stevens wrote in his letter registry.
The registrar's office was scheduled to discuss Stevens' request on March 26, but Chairman Henry “Hank” Fincher, with the consent of the board, asked the mayor and PAC president Richard Cole to Mr Bill said he had decided to give the councilors time to respond in writing to their letter. Mr. Young is the Executive Director of the Registry.
The issue will be part of the registry's agenda at 9:30 a.m. May 28 at the Tennessee Tower in downtown Nashville. Mr. Stevens' letter suggested that the $7,500 contributions from Mr. McFarland to the PAC and from the PAC to Mr. Reed were made on the “exact same day” on November 23, 2022.
Campaign finance issues:Murfreesboro, Smyrna mayors face audit and investigation request by state Rep. Stevens
The PAC then amended its online records on March 14 to show that McFarland donated $7,500 on November 15, 2022, and that the PAC subsequently donated $7,500 to the Reed campaign on November 22, 2022. Indicated that the donation was made. The Daily News Journal sent an email. PAC representative Cole could not be reached for comment Tuesday at 4:06 p.m.
The PAC, which lists Murfreesboro P.O. Box as its address, also made a $2,000 campaign contribution each to Smyrna Vice Mayor Mark Adkins and fellow Town Council members HG Cole and Jerry Short on November 22, 2022. . The PAC's final funding balance after donations was just over $743, according to its revised 2022 fourth quarter report.
Stevens, who is also an attorney, sent a letter to the registrar's office before Smyrna voters consider a March 5 referendum on whether to abolish the town's General Sessions Court with Mayor Reed's support. Ta. The lawmaker's sister, Judge Brittany Stevens, won the Republican primary for the Tennessee House of Representatives seat and won an eight-year term in August 2022 to head the court that handles criminal cases.
More than 71% of Smyrna voters opposed a plan to transfer criminal cases to General Sessions Court, based at the Rutherford County Justice Center in downtown Murfreesboro.
Both mayors suggested that Congressman Stevens' motivation for requesting an investigation and audit was in response to Smyrna officials' efforts to eliminate his sister's General Sessions Court.
“The public should also participate.”Smyrna officials are divided over the status of the General Sessions Court.
Mayor Reed accuses Congressman Stevens of pursuing 'personal vendetta'
Mayor Reed emailed the following statement to the Daily News Journal on Tuesday.
“In 2022, I received legal contributions from political action committees based on contribution limits. State Representative Robert Stevens This donation has sparked controversy because of the arguments Mr. Smyrna has made over the continuation of the General Sessions Court.” If voters had supported the March 5 Smyrna referendum, his sister would would not have been guaranteed a term as a judge.
“I believe Congressman Stevens is trying to use his position as a state representative to weaponize state agencies against me and others for personal vendettas. The complaint is based on inaccurate information. The records are visible to everyone and show that everything was done in accordance with election law.”
“The people spoke clearly”:Smyrna voters reject referendum to abolish courthouse
Mayor McFarland says construction partners were working on rezoning the Smyrna development before making the donation.
The donation in question from Mr. McFarland was approved by his longtime business partner, Stephen Dotson of DM Homes LLC, on a unanimous vote of the Smyrna Town Council, including Mayor Reed, during the August and September 2022 council meetings. The move comes months after the 7.4-acre townhome project received rezoning approval. confirmed the mayor of Murfreesboro.
“I had nothing to do with zoning,” said McFarland, who said he was not allowed to talk to elected officials, planning officials and city managers about development projects promoted by construction companies. He added that he was avoiding it. “No one knew I was involved in it and I didn’t want to put too much pressure on anyone.
“Once construction begins, I will also be on site.”
Complaints about management:Attorney for Smyrna Judge Brittany Stevens calls for investigation of Town Manager Brian Hercules
Mayor Reed supports McFarland's development briefing
Mayor Reed's statement also confirmed Mr. McFarland's explanation regarding the townhouse project.
“With respect to the Smyrna development, it is important to note that neither the Planning Commission nor the Town Council were aware of Shane McFarland’s involvement with DM Homes during the planning process,” Reed said. Stated. “However, regardless of this association, this project received unanimous support at every stage of the approval process.”
Smyrna City Council learned more about DH Homes LLC's plans from landscape architect Rob Molchan of Murfreesboro-based SEC (Site Engineering Consultants). The project includes 61 townhomes near the town line south of adjacent La Vergne High School in Smyrna on Cheney Road, according to public records obtained by request from the Daily News Journal. Plans included the construction of Cedar Grove Village.
DM Homes LLC shares the same Murfreesboro address as Shane McFarland Construction. McFarland said he and Dotson are also partners in Caroline Farms LLC, the owner of the rezoned Smyrna property.
Letter of inquiry from Stevens also questions donations to McFarland
Stevens' letter to the Registry accused Mayor McFarland of violating the $1,600 limit on accepting campaign contributions from individuals.
- The five individual contributions McFarland reported on June 16, 2022 and June 20, 2022, each amounted to $2,500, exceeding the legally allowed maximum by $900.
- Two individual contributions McFarland reported on June 16, 2022 and June 21, 2022, were each $2,000, $400 more than the legally allowed maximum.
Mayor McFarland said of the registry issue:
“If we make a mistake, it's the duty of elected officials to own up to it, and I've taken my share of that responsibility. I'm honest, and if I make a mistake or make a mistake, it's never intentional, and this example is no exception.”
Road planning issues:Murfreesboro mayor wants to avoid being 'swallowed by Nashville's actions' on roads
For news tips or questions, contact reporter Scott Broden by emailing sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work at The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.
