New Harwell ad calls Ogles tax raiser, lobbyist
Former state House Speaker Beth Harwell is running the first negative ad of her 5th Congressional District campaign against Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles, calling him a lobbyist and a tax raiser.
Harwell has been the subject of a barrage of attack ads by super PACs linked to the Club for Growth and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Here’s the transcript of the new Harwell spot:
NARRATOR: The D.C. special interest group that attacked Donald Trump is now lying about Beth Harwell. They support Andy Ogles because he’s a D.C. insider. He’s also a tax raiser. Lobbyist Andy Ogles pushed for a sales tax increase that would have hit working families hard. Conservative Beth Harwell is Tennessee tough. Build Trump’s wall, cut our taxes, pass term limits. Beth Harwell will put America first.
HARWELL: I’m Beth Harwell and I approve this message.
The ad cites a 2016 news report about the Club for Growth criticizing Trump, though the group and the former president have been on the same page numerous times since then. Ogles did back a referendum on a local-option sales tax hike in Maury County. It’s unclear why the script uses conditional language that the tax “would have hit working families,” as it was approved by voters there on a 52%-48% vote in 2020.
Oops, I did it again? Arnn strikes differing tones in Tennessean, USA Today op-eds
Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn penned two op-eds last week to try to explain his remarks about teachers and education programs. “Teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country,” Arnn said at the event attended by Gov. Bill Lee, who has refused to repudiate the comment.
One of Arnn’s op-eds appeared in The Tennessean while the other was published in Gannett’s flagship USA Today. They struck surprisingly differing tones. In the USA Today piece, Arnn started out by declaring “I have said this many times, in public and in private, and will likely say it again.” He also said he’d apologize to Lee if he caused him any embarrassment.
Arnn did not pledge to “say it again” in the Tennessean item and also made no offer of apology to Lee. Both op-eds are dated July 18 and it’s unclear why Arnn took differing approaches for the national and local audiences.
Here’s the top of the Arnn piece in The Tennessean:
At a recent event with Gov. Bill Lee, I remarked that “Teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country.” I’ve made similar critiques of the education bureaucracy my entire career.
This does not contradict my deep and abiding affection for teachers. After the students, the most important people in the college where I work are teachers (the maintenance workers are third — and I tell everyone this often).
Dumb can mean “unintelligent,” which I did not mean. Dumb also means “ill-conceived” or “misdirected,” which is, sadly, a fitting description for many education schools today.
And here’s how Arnn started out in in USA Today:
During a recent event in Nashville, I made news by saying, “Teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country.”
I have said this many times, in public and in private, and will likely say it again. This time it was important because Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was present. Many were outraged. I was not speaking for the governor, and I would rather do anything than embarrass him. If I have done that, I apologize to him.
Early voting down so far from last two gubernatorial cycles
Early voting through the first six days of the period was down 23% compared with the last gubernatorial election cycle in 2018 and 22% from 2014. Republican turnout has been 24% less than four years ago, when Gov. Bill Lee was first nominated for governor in a competitive primary. Democratic early voting is down 30% over 2018.
Shelby County has seen the biggest increase in early voting — more than 5,000 more than in 2018 — amid a competitive race for district attorney general between incumbent Amy Weirich and Democratic challenger Steve Mulroy.
Republican voting has been down by 29% in the new 5th Congressional District, which is made up of parts of Davidson (-28%), Williamson (-21%), and Wilson (-52%), and all of Lewis (-16%), Marshall (-15%), and Maury (-25%) counties. But voting is up 2% compared with 2014.
Here’s the full breakdown from the Secretary of State’s office:
| County | 2022 | Change from 2018 | Change from 2014 |
| Anderson | 2,135 | -30% | -42% |
| Bedford | 949 | -56% | -62% |
| Benton | 1,290 | -2% | -20% |
| Bledsoe | 207 | -30% | -61% |
| Blount | 3,230 | -22% | 24% |
| Bradley | 1,980 | -46% | -45% |
| Campbell | 1,798 | -18% | -11% |
| Cannon | 592 | -18% | -29% |
| Carroll | 1,006 | -29% | -23% |
| Carter | 1,256 | -43% | -55% |
| Cheatham | 1,146 | 7% | -39% |
| Chester | 890 | 7% | -24% |
| Claiborne | 1,724 | -13% | -7% |
| Clay | 772 | 27% | 9% |
| Cocke | 1,863 | 14% | 17% |
| Coffee | 2,289 | -19% | -7% |
| Crockett | 241 | -63% | -78% |
| Cumberland | 2,080 | -21% | -29% |
| Davidson | 6,297 | -30% | 176% |
| Decatur | 969 | -5% | -7% |
| DeKalb | 1,108 | 20% | 6% |
| Dickson | 1,446 | -8% | -33% |
| Dyer | 1,439 | -4% | -32% |
| Fayette | 1,137 | -26% | -40% |
| Fentress | 1,380 | -18% | -17% |
| Franklin | 1,895 | 3% | 7% |
| Gibson | 1,096 | -42% | -24% |
| Giles | 1,309 | -28% | -12% |
| Grainger | 307 | -47% | -47% |
| Greene | 862 | -65% | -67% |
| Grundy | 634 | 25% | -31% |
| Hamblen | 1,101 | -28% | -6% |
| Hamilton | 6,380 | -23% | -29% |
| Hancock | 191 | -20% | -64% |
| Hardeman | 1,343 | -7% | 8% |
| Hardin | 708 | -53% | -42% |
| Hawkins | 875 | -49% | -49% |
| Haywood | 863 | -31% | -27% |
| Henderson | 604 | -57% | 5% |
| Henry | 1,232 | -28% | -28% |
| Hickman | 1,145 | -4% | -22% |
| Houston | 819 | 9% | -6% |
| Humphreys | 966 | 4% | -34% |
| Jackson | 587 | -11% | -8% |
| Jefferson | 766 | -55% | -39% |
| Johnson | 1,094 | -27% | -35% |
| Knox | 11,091 | -29% | -21% |
| Lake | 553 | -5% | -21% |
| Lauderdale | 1,651 | 54% | -5% |
| Lawrence | 2,105 | 47% | 18% |
| Lewis | 678 | -28% | -37% |
| Lincoln | 1,241 | 29% | -26% |
| Loudon | 2,585 | -35% | 17% |
| Macon | 1,803 | -25% | -5% |
| Madison | 2,730 | -31% | -51% |
| Marion | 683 | -14% | -24% |
| Marshall | 1,189 | -16% | -41% |
| Maury | 2,769 | -35% | -38% |
| McMinn | 914 | -48% | -55% |
| McNairy | 858 | -37% | -44% |
| Meigs | 435 | -33% | -43% |
| Monroe | 1,433 | -48% | -48% |
| Montgomery | 3,912 | -6% | -27% |
| Moore | 471 | -24% | 29% |
| Morgan | 676 | -37% | -49% |
| Obion | 1,287 | -35% | -19% |
| Overton | 1,165 | 6% | -19% |
| Perry | 449 | -28% | -13% |
| Pickett | 366 | -2% | -48% |
| Polk | 782 | 20% | -41% |
| Putnam | 1,898 | -38% | -48% |
| Rhea | 1,628 | -24% | -22% |
| Roane | 2,328 | -21% | -26% |
| Robertson | 1,646 | -39% | -30% |
| Rutherford | 5,656 | -32% | -21% |
| Scott | 1,696 | -11% | -3% |
| Sequatchie | 504 | -63% | -43% |
| Sevier | 751 | -68% | -51% |
| Shelby | 28,154 | 22% | 3% |
| Smith | 977 | -26% | -32% |
| Stewart | 1,251 | -5% | -16% |
| Sullivan | 1,477 | -72% | -74% |
| Sumner | 2,558 | -38% | -12% |
| Tipton | 1,330 | -32% | -38% |
| Trousdale | 703 | -9% | -18% |
| Unicoi | 348 | -53% | -58% |
| Union | 471 | -40% | -34% |
| Van Buren | 507 | 78% | 39% |
| Warren | 2,307 | -15% | 18% |
| Washington | 2,203 | -35% | -32% |
| Wayne | 975 | -8% | -18% |
| Weakley | 1,242 | -33% | -35% |
| White | 977 | -31% | -29% |
| Williamson | 3,907 | -28% | 47% |
| Wilson | 3,186 | -55% | -35% |
| Cumulative | 174,507 | -23% | -22% |
Ogles claimed he raised $453K in first 30 days, but collected only $247K in entire quarter
Turns out Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles wasn’t being truthful when he announced in May he had raised $453,000 in the first 30 days of his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District. After missing Federal Election Commission’s disclosure deadline by more than a week, Ogles finally reported Saturday he had raised $247,087 throughout the entire quarter.
Another $320,000 came in the form of a loan from the candidate on April 15. Lest anyone think Ogles was counting the loan toward his total in May, he told a reporter at the time his haul didn’t include any loans.
Ogles raised another $17,315 in the pre-primary period and spent a total of $301,063 and had balance of $283,338. But $53,534 of his cash on hand is reserved for the general election, meaning he had a $229,804 balance for the primary.
New TNJ edition alert: Ogles files a lawsuit, but not his campaign finance disclosure
The latest edition of The Tennessee Journal is out. Here is what’s in it:
— Outside super PACs ramp up attack ads in 5th District, and one candidate takes his complaints to court
— Andy Ogles, who has been targeted for his late property tax, has now missed the campaign finance disclosure deadline by a week.
— A look at key donors to Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead (and some who hedged their bets by giving to both).
— From the campaign trail: Todd Warner cries foul over mailers highlighting FBI raid and connections to “disgraced former speaker,” competitive primaries for two open House seats in Williamson County, and Scott Cepicky’s fight for reelection.
Also: Larry Arnn says he “will likely say it again,” John Mark Windle retires from the National Guard, Torrey Harris gets arrested, and Registry member Tom Lawless blasts the attorney general’s office.
As always, access the your copy of the TNJ here.
Or subscribe here.
Democratic Rep. Torrey Harris charged with domestic assault, theft
Freshman Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) has been charged with domestic assault and theft. His first court date is scheduled for Oct. 10, well after the House District 91 primary in which he faces Democratic challenger Barbara Farmer-Tolbert.
Harris was arrested on Sunday in Nashville after an ex-boyfriend told police the lawmaker had scratched his arm while trying to prevent him from leaving his apartment. Harris had been at the home to return the man’s dog after a pet-sitting stint. The former partner left the apartment and found on his return that Harris had taken the dog, a gaming console, computer, earphones, and other items. Harris later confirmed to police he had taken the dog but told officers the other items he had taken had been gifts he had purchased.
The assault charge is a misdemeanor, while the alleged theft is a felony.
Harris said he plans to plead not guilty. Here’s his full statement:
I first want to say thank you for all the support and to those who have reached out during this time.
I have retained legal counsel and myself and the team are working diligently to cooperate with the investigation. I maintain my innocence and will plead not guilty to the charges. I know that at the end of this I will be cleared of all allegations.
My focus will remain on serving the people as it always has been, but my ask is that if someone you know – loved one, friend, or neighbor is battling with mental health, that you help them as best as you can. Never deter from supporting those who need us even at their toughest moments.
As for me, I want to say thank you for all the calls and to those who have reached out during this time. This has been a lived example that will help me better help those I serve. Trust me, I have already noticed steps in policy that lawmakers like myself must work to improve throughout the justice system.
Over the next couple of weeks you will learn more about this matter and I look forward to moving on after it is all said and done.
How much will Ogles’ late disclosures cost him?
The deadline to submit campaign finance disclosures with the Federal Election Commission was Friday. There was still no sign Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles’ filing as of Tuesday, the third day of early voting in the Republican primary for the 5th Congressional District.
We had a look at the FEC website to figure out what sort of penalty Ogles will face for his tardiness, and it appears he will have to pony up a minimum of $5,242 based on the fundraising levels he announced shortly after joining the race.
Ogles declared in May that he had raised $453,000 in the first 30 of his campaign. The FEC’s administrative fines are calculated on the basis of the total money a candidate has raised and spent during the period in question. He’s presumably brought in more money than the originally announced total and he’s been running a TV ad in fairly regular rotation, so the aggregate is likely to be significantly higher. You can calculate your own estimated penalties here.
The Ogles campaign told the Tennessee Star it was having trouble retrieving bank records. His failure to file his disclosure on time comes as he is the subject of an attack ad hitting him for repeatedly missing the deadline to pay his property taxes on time.
Challenger drops the boom on embattled Rep. Todd Warner
Forget beating around the bush. Freshman Rep. Todd Warner (R-Chapel Hill) is getting the full treatment from Republican primary challenger Jeff Ford, a former Williamson County commissioner. A mailer sent out to voters in District 92 notes that Warner is under investigation by the FBI, with the agency’s initials appearing in bright yellow letters. “We deserve better!” the piece says.
The mailer notes that Warner’s home and office were raided by federal agents — “along with disgraced former speaker Glen Casada.” The latter lost his bid for Williamson County clerk by a 3-to-1 margin in March.
Here’s the other side of the mailer:
Here’s the backstory on the Andy Ogles attack ad
A distinctive attack ad claims Republican congressional candidate Andy Ogles failed to pay his property taxes nine times. The spot funded by the Tenenssee Conservatives PAC, which was founded by supporters of former candidate Morgan Ortagus, cites Williamson County property tax records as the source for the hit.
Here’s the transcript:
Narrator 1: “Andy Ogles failed to to pay his property taxes nine times.”
Narrator 2: “Nine times?”
Narrator 1: “That’s right. Any Ogles failed to pay his property taxes nine times.”
Narrator 2: “Nine times.”
Narrator 1: “But as county mayor, Ogles supported increasing the sales tax and didn’t oppose a property tax hike or a marriage tax. Andy Ogles failed to pay his property taxes nine times.”
Narrator 2: “Nine times.”
Narrator 1: “Andy Ogles didn’t pay his taxes but supported raising yours. Tennessee Conservatives PA is responsible for the content this message.”
We delved into the records to see whether we could replicate the claims of the ad. We found that Ogles appeared as a co-owner of a Franklin home between 2005 and 2015, though for reasons unknown he was not listed on the rolls in the 2013 tax year. While it’s true that property tax payments were late on nine occasions, that includes years where the Ogles family was as little as one or two days behind the deadline. But in other years it took as many as 194 and 322 days to pay the tax bill.
Here’s what the records show:
| Tax Year | Amount | Due Date | Payment Date | Days late | Interest |
| 2005 | $1,445 | 2/28/2006 | 3/7/2006 | 7 | 0 |
| 2006 | $1,436 | 2/28/2007 | 3/2/2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | $1,436 | 2/28/2008 | 2/29/2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | $1,565 | 2/28/2009 | 9/10/2009 | 194 | $130 |
| 2009 | $1,479 | 2/28/2010 | 4/12/2010 | 43 | $43 |
| 2010 | $1,479 | 2/28/2011 | 4/19/2011 | 50 | $43 |
| 2011 | $1,967 | 2/28/2012 | 1/15/2013 | 322 | $279 |
| 2012 | $1,688 | 2/28/2013 | 1/11/2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013* | $2,036 | 2/28/2014 | 4/21/2014 | 52 | $59 |
| 2014 | $2,120 | 2/28/2015 | 6/18/2015 | 110 | $120 |
So did Andy Ogles fail to pay his property taxes nine times, as the ad claims? Not exactly. He did pay, albeit in a tardy fashion. And in some years he was later than others.
