Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.
Joe Grandy is a career politician (Reeves TV ad).
THE FACTS: Nope, Joe Grandy entered full-time public service after a four-decade career at Ferguson Enterprises, which he grew from 8 employees to 80, from $2 million to $30 million in annual revenue. Mr. Reeves is a self-described “political junkie” (JCP, 1/22/18) who has run for Congress twice against Phil Roe, for county commission, and three times for county mayor. Some people will say anything to just get elected.
Beer Sales at the Appalachian Fairgrounds
THE FACTS: NO! The mayor has nothing to do with beer permits or applications. The mayor does not have a vote or veto on the beer board and does not set its schedule. Nothing to do with it at all. Mr. Reeves is making this up to deceive evangelical Christian voters. Joe Grandy OPPOSES beer at the Appalachian Fairgrounds.
“Joe even supported a noisy bitcoin operation to torment a peaceful community” (Reeves TV ad).
THE FACTS: Mayors don’t vote. Kent Harris proposed it, and the County Commission approved it unanimously. Mr. Reeves operates a cryptocurrency mine in his garage. Joe Grandy has no financial interest in cryptocurrency.
“Washington County has racked up massive debt” (Reeves TV ad).
THE FACTS: BACKWARDS. Washington County’s bond obligations were $172 million when Joe Grandy ran for Mayor in 2018. They are now $132 million. That’s DOWN, not up.
Jonesborough School adds $55 million to the county’s debt (Reeves attack mailer).
THE FACTS: Don’t be bamboozled. The Town of Jonesborough is building the desperately needed new school, and Mayor Grandy supports it 100%. The county will not have to issue any bonds to do it. If the county had built it with debt, that would have cost taxpayers $85 million in principal and $27 million in interest on a $42.5 million school. Joe Grandy’s approach saves taxpayers $30 million. Mr. Reeves would rather build with debt financing that sends millions in interest to big banks in New York. No wonder Mr. Reeves said, “I’ve got to raise taxes a little bit. I’ve seen where raising taxes has to happen sometimes” (Herald & Tribune, 5/3/22).
“Wasted thousands on late fees” (Reeves TV Ad).
THE FACTS: $453.08 out of a $160 million budget. Bills cannot be paid until they are approved by the department that owes them and forwarded to accounts payable. Once a bill is received by accounts payable, payment is ALWAYS processed the same day.
When multiple county departments have accounts with the same vendor, the vendor often views the whole county government as a single account. Sometimes the vendors misapply payments and assess late fees. Once the error is identified, the vendor credits back the full amount of the late fee on the next bill, netting out to zero.
TN Comptroller Audit found “accounting deficiencies, mishandled competitive bids, and ongoing investigations” in the mayor’s office (Reeves newspaper ad).
THE FACTS: Just one problem- that’s from the 2018 Comptroller Audit covering the period BEFORE Joe Grandy was even elected.
“Joe spends millions, but still no ball fields for our kids at Boones Creek School” (Reeves TV ad).
THE FACTS: “Reeves said ballfields the county still plans to build at the new Boones Creek Elementary school have already been finished” (WCYB, 7/27/22). So which is it, Mr. Reeves? The project has been approved and initiated. Inflation raised the price of materials for the final phase of the project beyond the original budget, something most folks can relate to. Hold your tatters.
“Almost $6 million spent for a grass field” (Facebook, 7/16/22).
THE FACTS: Hardly. It’s actually two baseball fields, two softball fields, a football/soccer field, and a track with lights, bleachers, concessions, and restroom facilities.
“Plans in motion to close the Fall Branch, Sulphur Springs, or Westview School” (Reeves attack mailer).
THE FACTS: FALSE. The School Board owns all school properties. The Mayor has no authority to interfere under Tennessee law. Joe Grandy supports keeping ALL existing schools OPEN. This is a recycled myth from 2018.
The mayor’s salary is above the state minimum.
THE FACTS: The mayor does not set his own salary. The minimum salaries of county officials are set by a formula in State law according to population. The county commission set the salary BEFORE Joe Grandy became mayor, and Joe Grandy has never requested a raise. Due to the State’s formula, Mr. Reeves’ plan to cut the mayor’s pay would require cutting the sheriff’s pay also. Joe Grandy opposes defunding the police.
Washington County has closed “fully functioning schools” (JCP 7/16/22) and built “schools we probably didn’t need to build,” (WJHL 7/11/22).
THE FACTS: Students had been falling through the cracks for years due to decades of deferred maintenance. Leaking roofs. Mold. Mildew. Sewer Gas. Joe Grandy makes no apologies for investing in clean, safe, and healthy school facilities for our teachers and kids.
Regarding the old Boones Creek Elementary school, Reeves said, “The same individuals that condemned the school are celebrating using the same exact school for a tech school” (Facebook, 7/16/22).
THE FACTS: The State of Tennessee is investing $15.4 million to renovate the old Boones Creek Elementary for use as a trade school. A half truth is a whole lie.