There are a few new developments in the District 18 Metro Council race in which Jon Ackerson accused Ellen Reitmeyer of stealing his signs, Reitmeyer accused Ackerson of being a stalker basically, and both denied both allegations.

Basically, one of them is lying.

The Courier-Journal surprising had two decent pieces about the race in yesterday’s paper. One article about how the 3 candidates would address traffic issues and other stuff. One survey-type piece in which the candidates answer questions about taxation, regulation, and spending. I can’t believe Ackerson supports that stupid library tax idea.

Other developments.

1) There are metal signs in people’s yards in the district that are missing the actual plastic signs that have Ackerson’s name on it. So, some of his signs were undoubtedly stolen, but not necessarily by Reitmeyer. In fact, Reitmeyer would probably suggest that Ackerson stole his own signs in order to frame her.

There are also people saying that they did not request the Ackerson signs that are in their yards. However, Ackerson could be correct that the person’s spouse or child could have requested the sign over the telephone.

2) Ackerson has gone negative in a mail piece, and is inaccurate on two fronts. Reitmeyer’s brother-in-law has come to her defense in two separate emails which I will post below.

Reitmeyer says Ackerson’s piece lies to all the District 18 voters because it says she had never lived in the district until deciding she wanted to run for office. He is wrong about that.

He is also wrong in a lie he tells about Joyce K. Jennings. Ackerson asserts that Jennings has no government leadership experience. That is absolutely false. Jennings was appointed by 3 different Governors to serve on the Judicial Conduct Commission, was the Executive Director of Women’s Physical & Mental Health, and headed up Get Healthy, Kentucky!

Here are the emails from Reitmeyer’s brother-in-law.

The first one from yesterday:

This is just to let you all know that Jon Ackerson, running for
District 18 Metro Council seat, is spreading absolute lies about
opponent and Jefferson County GOP vice chair Ellen Reitmeyer.

First the ridiculous “dumpstergate” debacle, where he “just happened
upon” (his words) Ellen’s home and “found” his yard signs in the
trash. Now he is sending out mailers claiming that Ellen has NEVER
lived in District 18, which is patently false. Ellen lived in District
18 for years, then moved literally blocks away, just out of the
district, but worked for five years as Councilwoman Adams’ legislative
aide for District 18. Ellen knows the district backward and forward.

I am urging those getting this email to please consider exposing
Ackerson’s smears and lies for what they are. He should not be able to
get away with this, and such mudslinging from a Republican to his
county’s vice chair sets a bad example for Republicans and the public
in general.

BTW, I have not been tasked nor asked to write this email. My
conscience is my guide.

Sincerely,

R. Justin Shepherd
Concerned supporter of a fair democracy (and brother-in-law of Ms.
Reitmeyer)

The second one from yesterday:

In bold text, the mailer claims Ellen Reitmeyer has “NEVER” lived in
District 18 and just moved there to run for office. This is false on
its face. Ellen lived in District 18 when Julie Adams ran for office
and voted for her; voter rolls will bear that out. Ellen later moved
to Highlands briefly, then purchased her first condo literally blocks
away. She purchased her new condo (the one Ackerson suspiciously
showed up at a few days ago) in the summer, at a time when Adams was
still contemplating running for re-election.

The mailer also claims Ellen has no endorsements from “Police/Public
Protection”. This also is false; Ellen has been endorsed by three
local firefighters groups: Louisville Professional Firefighters,
Jefferson County Professional Firefighters and Louisville Federation
of Retired Firefighters. It’s worth noting that Ackerson’s sole
endorsement in this category, by FOP Lodge 26, was not opened to the
other candidates, no interviews were given.

Conservative voting record and government leadership are also
deceptive. Ellen has worked for years as Adams’ legislative aide, and
has worked on behalf of generally conservative principles and moves
during that time. Ellen is also vice chair of the Jefferson County
GOP, which is hardly “no” leadership.

It’s also worth noting that Ackerson a.) stole “The Choice is Clear”
directly from a mailer Ellen sent out weeks ago, and b.) that he can’t
spell “legislator” correctly.

Hope you see fit to call this candidate to task for his outright lies
and deceptions. His opponents have run clean campaigns. If he’s the
“experienced” one, it seems he could do the same.

Ellen is too principled to make a lot of hay out of this… luckily,
I’m not. Politicians should tell the truth, and they certainly
shouldn’t tell bold lies about their opponents.

Thanks,

Justin Shepherd

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