COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. — There are three candidates challenging State Representative Curry Todd in the Republican primary for the State District 95 seat Thursday.
Those candidates have mixed feelings about whether Todd’s arrest for allegedly stealing an opponent’s campaign signs will hurt his chances of winning.
“Curry, if you want to be state Representative, let me tell you how you go about it: Quit lying, quit drinking and driving,” said Mark Lovell, who’s signs Todd is accused of stealing.
“I think it should hurt him (the sign controversy) because it’ll show his character,” Lovell added.
Another candidate, Diane George, also accused Todd of stealing her campaign signs.
The former Shelby County School Board member said she filed a police report in June.
“I think that that takes away freedom of speech when we are stealing the signs and it is unethical,” said George.
George said the 18-year incumbent has never faced a real challenge to his seat.
“I think that he was fearful of losing the campaign,” said George.
Dana Matheny, a former health care administrator, is also running for the District 95 seat — but she said she thinks the sign controversy is overblown.
“I think it’s a distraction, especially at this time in the campaign,” said Matheny.
Matheny said she doesn’t want to pre-judge the outcome of Todd’s legal case and said she doesn’t think it will sway many voters.
“I don’t know that this is gonna be like a last-minute moment that they’re gonna change their opinion of what they had previously,” she said.