Video recorded by one of Senator Jon Lundberg’s, D-Bristol, campaign volunteers has led to misdemeanor theft and vandalism charges against the father of his opponent.¶
That video showed Senate challenger Bobby Harshbarger’s father Bob Harshbarger Sr. walking around a pile of campaign signs that have been knocked over at the intersection of Highway 11W and Route 394 in Blountville. In it, Lundberg’s staff confront Harshbarger and accuse him of removing the Senator’s signs.¶
Bob Harshbarger Sr. is also the husband of U.S. Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.¶
The Rogersville Review first reported on the incident. Lundberg told the newspaper, and confirmed to the Tennessee Firefly, that in the past several weeks he's had 75-100 campaign signs either damaged, destroyed or stolen and as a result, his campaign volunteers have been monitoring Lundberg sign locations.¶
The incident is the latest twist in a campaign that has been one of the most watched Senate races.¶
Senator Jon Lundberg (Photo by the Tennessee General Assembly)¶
In May the State Attorney General agreed to investigate claims Harshbarger broke campaign laws to attack Lundberg with a series of misleading text messages. A political action committee with direct ties to Harshbarger’s mother sent the texts to Senate district 4 voters.¶
The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance unanimously dismissed a separate complaint alleging campaign collusion against Senator Lundberg’s campaign last week.¶
Lundberg chairs the Senate Education Committee and Governor Lee’s plan to allow families to use tax dollars to send their children to private school has also been a big issue. Lundberg supports the universal school choice plan while Harshbarger has expressed opposition to it.¶
