GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — Germantown is electing several city leaders. The races usually go under the radar, but not this year.
“Germantown elected official Rocky Janda has all but admitted he violated Germantown ethics ordinances… ” says one robo call to residents about Alderman 5 incumbent Rocky Janda.
“Are we gonna trust him to not line his own pockets? ‘Cause I am not that trusting. People like Rocky Janda are the problem in sheep’s clothing,” the recording goes on to say.
“This just doesn’t fit our core values here in Germantown, which is basically excellence and kindness,” Janda told us Friday.
The incumbent has become the object of a political action committee, drawing attention to the business deals Janda has had with City of Germantown.
His company has sold the city different marketing material over the last four years, though Janda says it’s been a minuscule amount. His company also designed a donor sign at the Germantown Performing Arts Center for $8,000.
“The city attorney gave me permission to do it. So we are not talking about a lot of money in a multimillion-dollar business,” said Janda.
He says he has donated more than $40,000 back to community charities and hasn’t taken a salary.
The people behind the PAC, ismycitycorrupt.com, apparently think that’s not the point. We don’t know for sure, since they did not return our calls.
“I am a little concerned about the negativity as well,” says Janda’s opponent, businessman David Nischwitz.
He says he has nothing to do with the robo calls or the PAC.
“All of my campaign literature, my focus, my agenda has been positive. It’s about what to do to grow this city and this community,” says Nischwitz.
Yet, he says he would do things differently.
“I would prefer to keep my leadership position with the city or with government separate from my business relationship and my career,” said Nischwitz.
The politics of Germantown — it’s surprising residents.
“Everything that we seem to hear in this area in Germantown has been real positive, so I guess that’s why it’s so surprising,” said Carey Talley of Germantown.
“I don’t remember this being that way in the past elections, but that’s part of the process sometimes,” said Patti Russell of Germantown.
Janda said his dealing with the city were OKed by the city administrator and attorney. He has since cut those business ties.
Our calls to the PAC were never returned.
