Despite 2 To 1 Loss At D10 Convention, Former GOP Chair Decries Outcome & Asserts She Was “Lynched” By Williamson County GOP

Image Credit: Cheryl Coleman Brown / Facebook & The Tennessee Conservative

The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

Earlier this month, Williamson County GOP held a convention to select a candidate that will appear on the November ballot, for the vacated D10 seat on the Williamson County Commission. 

After nearly 300 residents of Williamson County’s district 10 showed up to cast their vote, Bill Petty claiming a solid victory.

Bill Petty Elected As District 10 GOP Candidate For Vacated Williamson County Commission Seat

It seems the loser in the race, the current appointee for the seat and former GOP chair Cheryl Brown, is making claims on social media along with supporters, that she was the victim of a “lynching”. 

Everyone understands the meaning of this word, which references the mob justice exacted on black citizens before the civil rights era, with specificity to areas in the American South.

Of course, we now understand the word to be a euphemism for racist treatment which then yields an unfair outcome to its victim. 

The Tennessee Conservative has reported on Brown’s tenure as GOP Chair, including the last time Brown was put under the microscope for her leadership of the county party. 

In the fall of 2022, Brown responded via social media, when she was criticized for her job performance as the leader of the Williamson County Republican Party.  

In response to an op ed accusing Brown of dereliction and abuse of her duties as Williamson County GOP chair, Brown responded under the article, “You know what, y’all a bunch of Racist conspiracy so called conservatives media.”

As TTC has previously reported, Brown’s tenure resulted in the largest re-tooling of a county GOP in the state’s history, Brown losing her Chairman seat to Tracy Miller with 194 votes for Brown, to 415 votes for Miller. 

In the past several days, Brown has taken to social media and again, accused those who are members of the Williamson County GOP of bias due to race.

In a social media post on Facebook, Brown was complaining of her loss and concluded her post with “Welcome to the lynching Williamson County Republican Party”. 

In an additional comment Brown accused another contributor of “lynch posting” photos of Brown’s family at the convention, where Brown was all smiles as she posed for photos with her opponent, Bill Petty. 

Considering Brown’s claims, which imply an unfairness due to racial bias, The Tennessee Conservative is publishing both candidate’s speeches that were given on the night of the D10 Convention, just before the election commenced. 

First, as this was the order of the candidates on that evening is Cheryl Brown’s speech, minus an initial greeting: 

“Again, thank you all for taking the time to be here tonight, and Mr. Petty for putting yourself up for consideration.  

I also express my gratitude to Minnie Smith, a distinguished black woman who has made a pivotal, I would say, difference in my life.  She was the one who led me to the Republican Party, as well as, she ministered salvation to me, so I am a Christian because of Minnie Smith, as well as a Republican. 

But I stand here before you as a testament to the misconception that the Republican party is exclusive and doesn’t welcome people of all races and backgrounds. So, let me tell you a story. I was the first black female, the first black female republican to serve on the executive committee of the Williamson County GOP and the first black female Republican to be elected of the Williamson County GOP.  I am grateful.  

And now I’m the first black female Republican to serve on the county commission for Williamson County.  So I am sincerely thankful to the commissioners, David Landrum and Megan Guffey, as well as the overwhelming support of the other county commissioners who believe I am the most suitable candidate to serve in this role.  

But, let me be very clear. I do not seek your vote because of my race or because I’m a woman.  I hope that every Republican in this room knows what a woman is.  I’m asking for your vote based on my proven leadership in this party and my many years of involvement and dedication to our community despite facing numerous personal attacks from those who question my character, integrity and principles. 

I remained steadfast in my commitment to support the mission and purpose of the Republican Party.  So let me just say this.  The Bible says it is better to have a good name, it’s better to be chosen than great riches.  So I stood on that principle because leadership matters. 

And here are some of the facts about what took place under my leadership as the leader of the Williamson County Republican Party.  

Before I started, we had less than about $20,000 in the bank, but we got busy.  We raised nearly a half a million to support Republican candidates. This included raising enough money to support every single Republican candidate who ran for office. We increased the revenue by 75% and party membership by 140%.  We got busy. 

We were the top producing county party in the state for 3 years out of 95 counties.  We got busy.  I was named the Republican Woman of the Year in 2022.  And now I serve as the very first vice president for the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women.  I share these things with you because leadership matters.  Having a record of involvement in this community matters. Having a record of leadership and commitment to conservative principles matter. 

 These same principles are ones I carry with me in my job as county commissioner.  But being a commissioner is not just a job.  It’s another opportunity to lead and serve from a conservative perspective and to set the direction for the future of our county.  Right now as we sit here, the Democrats are strategizing and looking for the cracks in our unity.  Let’s not let that happen. 

We must unite and support for law enforcement and first responders and keeping our taxes among the lowest in the state, maintaining fiscal responsibility and ensuring our schools remain safe and best in the state.  

One of my top priorities will be working with the other commissioners and the County Mayor to maintain our AAA bond rating, which is the highest quality credit rating available.  This will only, happen if we manage our spending wisely and ensure that our county debt is aggressively attacked and managed responsibly and accordingly.  

There are many critical issues facing our county in the next few years. I’ve already begun exploring with our county commissioners and community leaders the solution to our challenges and how to best protect Williamson County taxpayers.  

As you consider your vote for this important role, please look beyond the rhetoric and look at the facts.  I hope that you will continue to vote for me as your county commissioner of district 10 and I say thank you because I am honored to serve my community and you.  Thank you so much.”

Then Bill Petty’s speech followed: 

“Hello everyone.

Thank you all for being here tonight to take part in this important election for your next District 10 County Commissioner.

I also want to extend my gratitude to the Williamson County Republican Party for ensuring that the voices of District 10 residents are heard and to the Convention Committee for their time and hard work in organizing this event. 

I’m running for County Commissioner in District 10 because we need public servants with real-world problem-solving experience and a deep understanding of the issues facing Williamson County. My goal is to represent the interests of all residents of District 10, not just a select few.

Cheryl Brown and I share a common faith, which puts the needs of others before our own. We both want what’s best for the people in our community. However, we differ in our approach to solving the challenges facing Williamson County.

Many of you know me as the “Friday Recap” guy. After I moved here, a top priority was to get involved in my community for the sake of the children and future generations. So, I began attending the meetings of various commissions and boards to learn about the community and share that knowledge with others. 

For the past year, I’ve been publishing a weekly email newsletter I have cleverly named “Friday Recap.” In it I cover the County Commission, the Election Commission, the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA), and the school board providing meeting agendas, videos and my own summaries. 

When I can’t attend a meeting, I review the meeting video. This commitment has given me a strong grasp of the issues facing these governmental entities and our county.

Williamson County is a great place to live, work, worship and raise a family. But it also is facing a number of issues that the County Commission must address. I have the background, knowledge and experience to address those issues head on.

What has helped prepare me for this challenge?

Growing up, my family moved a number of times. My father was a pastor known as a church builder.

Every time we moved, I had to make new friends and find a way to fit in. The big lesson I learned from that is that people are basically the same everywhere you go.

After high school, I joined the Army and served with the 82nd Airborne. And, yes, I jumped out of perfectly good airplanes. After the service, I attended the University of Nebraska where I met my wonderful wife, Mary, and started our family in Omaha. Mary and I have a son and a daughter and four

grandchildren. I earned two degrees that led to a career in teaching and coaching. Years later, I started my own construction company, specializing in residential and commercial buildouts.

Community service has always been a big part of my life. While living in Omaha, I was president of the Nebraska Kidney Foundation, on the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and was very active in my church. 

Here in Franklin, I’m a volunteer at Grace Works, teach Guitars for Veterans and attend Franklin Community of Faith Church.

Why am I running for this position?

While my opponents’ campaign presents a highly optimistic view of Williamson County – and, indeed, there are many positive aspects to our community – we CANNOT overlook the significant challenges we face.

First, our county’s debt is around $1.2 billion dollars. That’s over $4,000 for every man, woman and child in Williamson County. This exorbitant debt will severely restrict our future options and flexibility.

Right now, our debt service is a whopping 10% of our budget. If we continue on this trajectory, another tax increase is inevitable. Which raises a critical question: Are we trying to be another Davidson County… with unchecked spending and soaring debt?

Secondly, our law enforcement and first responders are doing a first-rate job of protecting us. They are our heroes, and I will ensure they are fully funded and well paid. But right now, there is a proposal to build a $325 million-dollar jail and juvenile center that is three times larger than our existing jail and eight times larger than our current juvenile facility. An alternative has been proposed that could save us up to 30% of the overall cost. I think solutions like THAT should be strongly considered.

A third area of concern is the seemingly uncontrolled growth of Williamson County. We must closely examine our infrastructure and our capacity to support not only Williamson County residents, but also commuters from surrounding areas. It’s essential to collaborate with state and local officials, as well as economic development leaders, to manage growth in a way that preserves our unique quality of life.

A fourth area of concern for me – and I am sure it is for you — is our schools. As a former teacher, I appreciate the difficult job educators face each day. We need to focus our resources on the classroom not on administration. We need to increase teacher salaries, provide excellent classroom materials and prudently manage the remaining expenses.

Just this past April, the school board passed a five-year capital plan which includes upgrades to existing schools, ongoing maintenance and the construction of new facilities. The estimated cost for this is nearly $1 billion dollars.

Adding all this to the proposed $325 million cost for a new jail, the total projected additional capital expenses over the next five years exceed $1.3 billion dollars. This could potentially bring our overall debt to well over $2 billion dollars. That’s going to affect all of us, even if you don’t have children in school.

It seems we are constantly either increasing debt or increasing taxes. Or both. Many of our residents are struggling in an economy where the cost of living has greatly increased; I see them every week at Grace Works. We cannot keep digging our financial hole deeper.

Throughout my career as a veteran, teacher and small-business owner, I’ve learned how to be an effective problem-solver, collaborator and communicator, skills that are vitally important for a county commissioner.

I’m a consistent Conservative, not a conservative just at election time.

And if I am fortunate enough to be elected to the County Commission, those are the skills and values I intend to use in finding solutions to Williamson County’s many challenges.

So, here are my promises to you.

• I promise to treat all people the same… and not be influenced by special interests in our county…

• To be dedicated to transparency and fact-based decision-making…

• To ensure the county does not waste money on “wants” versus “needs…”

• To be true to the principles of limited government, low taxes, low regulations and efficient use

of taxpayer money.

• And most importantly, I promise to be true to YOU. To prioritize the needs and rights of the

people and put YOU first.

As a soldier, I fought for the Constitutional Republic in which we live. As your county commissioner, I will fight for you and be your voice. I will make the tough decisions to protect our quality of life and for the future of our children and our children’s children.

I simply ask you to give me that chance.

Thank you.”

We invite all readers to review both candidate’s speeches and then make their own determination who appears to be the most qualified candidate for the seat, based on their own words. 

The Tennessee Conservative will cover all elections and report their progress as we head into November.

 

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is an escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers, she has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  An outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty, Kelly also has a YouTube channel @Tennessee_Truth_Teller and is planning on expanding out to other channels soon. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com..