03/09/2016
I met with the publisher, Josh Peterson, of the Manchester Times yesterday, regarding the false information they printed on the front page of last week’s paper about my residence. I asked him to recant the article, since it included the falsehood that I “filed a Disclosure of Statement of Interests…stating that she lived on Northridge Drive in Manchester” and was construed in a way that was obviously intended to make readers believe that I lied to the TN Bureau of Ethics. He half-heartedly agreed to make a correction, but he would not agree to recant the article with an apology as I requested, without receipts and other personal information that I do not wish to share with him.
That being said, I’m going to explain the misinformation here, and you are welcome to share it with anyone you know who may have been misled by the newspaper. I also ask that, if you are concerned about my residence, please feel free to call me, email me, or send a message via any of the social media channels upon which you may follow me.
The Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance requires that elected officials, state and local, submit a “Statement of Interests” each year. The scope of this submission is around employment, investments, and other income that should be disclosed to the public to ensure protection from corruption. This form has nothing to do with residence, and it does not ask for the filer’s residence as the newspaper led you to believe. See T.C.A. §8-50-501(d)(3) for more information, or go here and you can search and retrieve mine as well as all the other elected officials’: https://apps.tn.gov/conflict/ . The form asks for “Contact Information,” not a “home address” or “residence.” I did not, as the Manchester Times asserted, state that I lived on Northridge Drive.
I sold my home quickly and unexpectedly in December. I did not even have it on the market at the time. As a temporary arrangement, I began renting two different places simultaneously – one on Lowery St. in Manchester and one in Sewanee. I am employed in Sewanee and my children are in school in the area. I have a friend who had a vacant duplex for sale close to the University of the South Campus. On a temporary, month to month basis with no long term agreement, I am renting and looking after one side of this property for her out of convenience for both of us until it is sold. I have not moved my permanent residence to Sewanee. If, at any point, this becomes permanent, I will of course resign my position as alderman for the City of Manchester. My permanent residence is still in Manchester, and right now it is on Lowery St. I did not, and still do not, expect to rent on Lowery St. for more than several months, as I have been looking for something more long term. For this reason, when I went to the TN Bureau of Ethics website to submit my statement of interests, I left my “contact address” as it was – defaulted to Northridge Dr. from last year – because I have a forward on that address with USPS for a period of 6 months. This is no different from my bank statements, cellular phone account, etc. They are still under Northridge Dr., as during this period of transition it is probably the best contact address I have.
Thankfully, the USPS understands the concept of a transition period and the need for time to arrange something more permanent and offers this forwarding service. Thankfully, our state government also understands this as well – providing in T. C. A. § 2-2-122 – “(4) A person does not lose residence if, with the definite intention of returning, the person leaves home and goes to another country, state or place within this state for temporary purposes, even if of one or more years duration. “ The Manchester Times, however, apparently does not understand this.
It is of no real surprise that the Manchester Times would take a “Statement of Interests,” of which they are either ignorant of its scope or trying to maliciously mislead its readers, and concoct a whirlwind of false assumptions by printing the story as a front page headline. They have quite a history of this, and most of the people I encounter acknowledge it and roll their eyes in disgust. As for the rest who may actually give the publication any credit beyond the sports section, feel free to contact me any time with your questions or concerns. I realize that it is an election year. I realize that many of you may disagree with my point of view on certain issues. I realize that unfortunately people with small minds will always make assumptions and rush to grab their knives. But I have to ask, is this the best they can do? I am not trying to deceive or defraud anyone. I have been transparent about my second residence in Sewanee - often posting pictures online from it and talking with people about it openly. It has been a huge help, as a single mother and full time employee, to have the place as a temporary, second home base for my children and me as I continue my commitment of working hard for the citizens of Manchester during this time of transition. I plan to continue to do just that, and if and when the situation changes, I will let everyone know.
