Black campaign asks TV stations to stop airing PAC-sponsored attack ad

The front page of The Tenenssean the day the driver’s license bill passed the General Assembly in April 2001.
An attorney for Diane Black’s gubernatorial campaign is asking TV stations to stop airing a TV ad that declares “Dishonest Diane Black” is “good for illegal immigrants, bad for Tennessee.” So reports The Tennessean, which obtained a copy of a letter sent to Knoxville TV station WVLT.
The ad was paid for by a political action committee, known as Tennessee Jobs Now, which supports one of Black’s GOP competitors — Knoxville entrepreneur Randy Boyd. (Previous post with video and text of the ad, HERE.)
TEA endorses Harwell for GOP gubernatorial nomination, Fitzhugh for Democratic nomination
Press release from Tennessee Education Association
The Tennessee Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education (TEA-FCPE) has endorsed Beth Harwell in the Republican Primary for Governor, and Craig Fitzhugh in the Democratic Primary for Governor. TEA-FCPE is the political action committee of TEA, the state’s largest professional association.
TSEA endorses Harwell for GOP gubernatorial nomination, Fitzhugh for Democratic nod
Press release from Tennessee State Employees Association
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Employees Action Movement (TEAM-PAC) the official PAC of TSEA, today voted to endorse Beth Harwell in the Republican Primary and Craig Fitzhugh in the Democratic Primary in the race for Governor in Tennessee. Continue reading
Harwell campaign and PAC, accused of improper coordination, using same ad company
House Speaker Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign and her political action committee – facing a complaint alleging they have illegally coordinated political activities – have been using the same company for advertising expenditures, reports The Tennessean – citing campaign finance reports.
Complaint: Beavers illegally diverted gubernatorial campaign funds to her mayoral campaign
Former state Sen. Mae Beavers used $122,123 in leftover money from her abandoned gubernatorial campaign to fund a new political action committee and the PAC then donated $7,800 to her new campaign for Wilson County mayor, according to a disclosure report filed Monday by Patriot PAC. The Tennessean reports that Beavers refunded the contribution on Wednesday, but a a complaint has been filed contending the move amounted to an “illegal conduit” that violated state campaign finance laws.
PAC airs second radio ad attacking ‘dishonest Diane Black’
A political action committee funded by millionaire businessman Joe Hollingsworth of Clinton is airing a second radio commercial attacking “dishonest Diane Black” as a gubernatorial candidate, reports Tennessee Star.
The latest 60 second radio ad from a group called Tennessee Jobs Now PAC (TnJobsNow.com) is airing on several stations across the state and follows up on an ad campaign in January that featured a man and woman talking about “Dishonest Diane” directing state contracts to her husband’s company while flushing money down the toilet — to keep Diane Black from getting her hands on it.
Obscure GOP megadonor put $500K into Joe Carr PAC
In an article headlined “The biggest Republican megadonor you’ve never heard of,” Politico reports Richard Uihlein and his wife, Elizabeth, are currently the nation’s biggest donors to GOP causes in the mid-term federal elections at $21 million – including $500,000 to a PAC set up by former Tennessee state Rep. joe Carr.
Sheriff sees ‘dirty politics’ in PAC complaints over prisoners’ trip to church
Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson held a news conference Thursday to denounce as “dirty politics” claims by a political action committee that he put the public in danger by taking nine state prisoners to a church in civilian clothes, apparently unguarded, reports the Times Free Press.
Harwell’s PAC puts up second ad promoting House speaker
Just days after her campaign was hit with an ethics complaint alleging House Speaker Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign has illegally coordinated with her political action committee in running one TV ad, the PAC has begun airing a second commercial promoting Harwell, reports the Nashville Post.
Third complaint filed over TV ad financed by Harwell’s PAC
Nashville conservative activist Sharon Ford has filed a third complaint against Beth Harwell’s gubernatorial campaign involving the House Speaker’s political action committee running a TV ad that praises Harwell’s leadership in the legislature, reports Nashville Post.
As with the two earlier complaints filed with the Registry of Election Finance, she contends that Tennesseans for Good Government, formerly known as Harwell PAC, clearly made the ad, entitled “The Signs Are Everywhere,” “with direction cooperation, consultation and in concert with” Harwell.