Running the Right Way: Ethics, Respect, and the Kind of Campaign We Deserve

As this election season continues across Putnam County, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about something that matters just as much as any policy position or campaign promise: how we conduct ourselves along the way.

Over the past several weeks, I have made it a priority to ensure that my campaign is operating with full transparency and within proper ethical guidelines. That includes clear separation between my roles as a publisher, business owner, and candidate, as well as proper documentation, disclosures, and adherence to standard rates and practices.

To ensure I was approaching this the right way, I sought guidance directly from the Tennessee Ethics Commission.

In response, I was told that “none of them raise any red flags or appear problematic” within the Commission’s jurisdiction. I was also reminded that if a publication were to offer preferential treatment, it “could be considered an in-kind donation,” which is exactly why I have been intentional about maintaining equal treatment and full documentation.

In February, I also reached out to Putnam County Attorney Jeff Jones regarding legal notices and any potential conflicts should I be elected. As part of that proactive step, I made it clear that I would not accept legal advertising revenue or any county-paid publication revenue if elected, to avoid even the appearance of a conflict.

That matters to me, because doing things the right way is not optional. It is foundational.

But ethics are not just about paperwork, policies, or compliance.

They are about character.

And that brings me to something we need to talk about as a community.

Campaign signs.

It may seem small, but it is not.

Over the past few weeks, there have been multiple reports across our area of campaign signs being removed, damaged, or taken. I have personally experienced this, and I know I am not alone. Candidates from different races and different viewpoints have dealt with the same issue.

Let me say this clearly.

That is not how we do things here.

Every sign represents someone who stepped forward to serve. Whether you agree with that person or not, they have invested time, resources, and effort into participating in the process. That deserves respect.

We do not have to agree. In fact, we will not always agree.

But we should be able to disagree without tearing each other down, without removing someone’s voice, and without resorting to actions that diminish the integrity of the process.

This is Putnam County.

We believe in faith, family, and freedom. We believe in standing firm in our values. And we believe in treating people with respect, even when we see things differently.

There are laws that govern campaign signs. Signs cannot be placed in public rights of way, and they are not allowed within 100 feet of polling locations. Signs placed on private property require permission from the property owner.

But many of the issues we are seeing are not about misunderstanding the law.

They are about respect.

Sign etiquette should not have to be a discussion, but here we are.

Do not remove signs that are not yours.
 Do not damage signs that do not belong to you.
 Do not place your sign directly in front of someone else’s sign.
 Do not place signs on private property without permission.
 If a sign is placed improperly, report it the right way.

And above all, be kind. It costs nothing.

One thing that has surprised me during this campaign is how many people have shared that signs are sometimes placed without even asking the property owner. That should never happen. Campaign signs belong on private property only with permission. Always. That is not just best practice, it is basic respect.

Every sign we place, we ask. Every time. Because it is someone else’s property, and that matters.

If you skip that step, you should not be surprised if that sign is removed or ends up in the trash. Property owners have every right to decide what is placed on their land. That is part of the very freedom we are all out here talking about.

There are also moments, even recently and in public settings, when the idea of running for office is treated lightly in places where important work is being discussed.

I will say this plainly. Leadership is not a joke. It is not something I take lightly, and I do not believe the people of this community do either.

When someone steps forward to serve, whether you agree with them or not, that decision deserves respect. Those in positions of leadership set the tone, and that tone should reflect the seriousness of the responsibility, both in words and in actions.

There is also a responsibility that comes with leadership, especially for those in visible roles. Whether in government, media, or positions of influence, people are watching even in moments when you may not realize it.

Positions of influence come with expectations, whether we acknowledge them or not.

Words matter. Tone matters. Timing matters.

I have always believed it is better to listen first, because listening tells you far more than speaking ever will. And when you do speak, it should reflect the weight of the position you hold.

The law can tell us where a sign goes. It cannot tell us how to treat each other.

That part is up to us.

If you disagree with a candidate, vote. Speak. Engage. That is how our system is designed to work.

Elections are not just about outcomes. They are about process. They are about trust. They are about whether we can model for our children and our community what it looks like to stand strong without losing respect for one another.

At the end of this election, one thing should be true no matter who wins.

We should still be able to look each other in the eye, shake hands, and say we ran this race the right way.

Because how we run matters just as much as who wins.

Let’s be better than this.

And I believe we are.