Iowa councillor in anti-Garriott advert was convicted of child endangerment
A Republican Iowa city councilwoman who featured in an advert portraying Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott as dangerous to children had herself been convicted of child endangerment. The disclosure has drawn accusations of hypocrisy and renewed scrutiny of a roughly $1 million campaign opposing Garriott in a closely contested House race.
Shellie Flockhart pleaded guilty to child endangerment and driving while intoxicated after police found her vehicle beside a highway in 2017, with her two children in the back and her blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. The advert, backed by the Congressional Leadership Fund, criticised Garriott’s votes on transgender issues, including a school bathroom bill. Garriott is running against Republican Zach Nunn, and the Cook Political Report has shifted the district’s rating from a toss-up to favouring her.
In short
- An anti-Garriott advert featured a woman convicted of child endangerment.
- Flockhart’s 2017 offence involved driving intoxicated with her children.
- The Cook Political Report now favours Garriott in the race.
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The case for
Critics of the advert can argue that presenting a candidate as dangerous to children while featuring a campaign supporter convicted of child endangerment undermines the advert’s credibility and invites scrutiny of the group’s judgement. In a close race, voters deserve to know both the record of the people used to make political claims and whether those claims fairly represent the candidate’s positions.
The case against
Defenders can argue that Flockhart’s past conviction does not determine whether the advert’s criticism of Garriott’s votes is accurate, and that voters should assess those claims on their merits. Political groups may also contend that a supporter’s personal history is separate from the policy debate, provided the advert does not mislead about the candidate or the issues.
Explained simply
Sarah Trone Garriott is a Democratic state senator running for a seat in the US House of Representatives against Republican Zach Nunn. The district is closely contested, so campaign adverts and political support can carry significant weight.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group that supports Republican candidates, backed an advert criticising Garriott’s votes on transgender issues, including a bill about school bathrooms. One person featured in the advert was Shellie Flockhart, a Republican city councillor in Iowa.
In 2017, Flockhart pleaded guilty to child endangerment and driving while intoxicated after police found her car by a highway with her two children inside. The case has prompted scrutiny of the advert’s campaign and its message about children.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Mom who starred in $1M campaign ad accusing Democrat of endangering children is exposed as convicted child endangerer”.