Rutherford County School Board member Tammy Sharp, a Republican who is seeking a third term representing Zone 1, released a statement Saturday describing a law enforcement incident involving her primary opponent.
According to the statement issued by Sharp’s campaign obtained by The Tennessee Star, the incumbent school board member reported being blocked in a driveway and then followed by her opponent in a vehicle before police intervened.
Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, and an official report – identified by the campaign as Case #26-007470 – has been filed. Sharp said she is “cooperating fully with authorities.”
While the press release did not name the individual involved, the only other declared Republican candidate in the Zone 1 race is Chuck Isbell, according to the county’s publicly posted qualified candidates list.
Sharp’s statement also raised additional allegations, claiming her opponent had been involved in the removal of campaign signs, which she said were later found in “his work truck” during Saturday’s police stop.
She characterized the alleged behavior as “unacceptable” and said it should be addressed through appropriate legal channels.
Sharp went on to frame the situation as part of a broader pattern of concerning conduct, stating she had been made aware of other instances suggesting “aggressive and intimidating behavior,” particularly toward women and political opponents.
“What concerns me most is that this does not appear to be an isolated incident. I have been made aware of other situations that suggest a pattern of aggressive and intimidating behavior, particularly toward women and political opponents. That has no place in our community,” she said.
“This campaign should be about serving our students, supporting our teachers, and strengthening our schools. It should not be about intimidation or confrontation. I will continue to run my campaign with integrity, respect, and a focus on the issues that matter to families in our district,” Sharp added.
The Republican primary election for the school board seat is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5.
The incident comes days before a candidate debate moderated by Shawn Farash is set to be hosted by the Rutherford County Young Republicans, though it remains unclear whether either Sharp or Isbell will participate in light of Saturday’s events.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “School Board Member Tammy Sharp” by Rutherford County Schools.
Some of these commenters here who are running her down must work for either the democrats or be friends or family of her opponent.
I find the comments to this article truly disturbing. The woman was being harassed by her opponent and the commenters belittle the victim. What have we become here in Tennessee when a woman reports being harassed by a political opponent and Tennesseans attack the victim. Are these people supporting her opponent and sent to demean Ms. Sharp? SHAME ON YOU.
Why would Tammy Sharp attend the court hearing today if she wasn’t trying to drum up a controversy? She hasn’t done anything for the community that she represents in years.
Isn’t she dating that Democrat who keeps running for office Crum?
Why is she having signs made up about this instead of being focused on students and education as she claims? Seems she’s being a bit hypocritical. Didn’t she also falsely claim a gun was involved? Would hate to see legal action come from these signs and the letters she is putting in people’s mailboxes without going through the postal office. Would be a shame if a door bell camera caught that happening.