UPDATE (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County Commissioner Julie Rogers has issued three cease and desist letters to Commissioners Stephanie Moore, Michael Seals, and Tracy Hall, in response to what Rogers calls “their on going smear campaign” against her.
In a statement, Rogers stated that the three have made “unsubstantiated allegations” against her and provided them in writing to other commissioners and the public.
Hall, Moore, and Seals were advised to publish a retraction within 5 days or face legal action.
Rogers is running for 60th District State Representative, and faces a primary challenge from Moore.
KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — State House Candidate Julie Rogers says she is the target of a smear campaign by two other members of the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners and she is fighting back.
In a letter directed to the County Commission, which can be found on this PDF from WOOD-TV, Tracy Hall claims that Rogers has been drunk on occasion, criticized staff at a party, and may have attempted to exceed her authority as the COVID-19 crisis hit the community.
Rogers says Hall and Commissioner Stephanie Moore, who both had been running for the same 60th House Seat, are behind the allegations, calling it an “orchestrated campaign of deceit,” noting that Hall had dropped out of the race but was supporting Moore in next month’s primary election.
Vice-Chair Michael Seals also signed the letter, but says he still supports Rogers.
Rogers says the claims were timed to hurt her campaign since absentee ballots are now being mailed out.
Hall conceded to us that the timing “stinks” but stands by the content of the letter.
Rogers stepped down as the Chair of the Board Tuesday saying she wanted a smooth transition of leadership when she leaves the board at the end of the year, and to focus on her House campaign. Hall was picked to replace her.
Other board members had nothing but praise for Rogers’ leadership after her announcement.
Both Seals and Hall declined interviews saying that they would let their written statements stand. Roger’s provided WKZO with this full statement:
“The first duty of elected officials is to the truth. It is unfortunate that my fellow commissioners Tracy Hall, Mike Seals, and Stephanie Moore are engaging in a smear campaign that has no basis in fact. Seals and Hall admit in a letter to commissioners that “no formal complaints have been filed against Julie Rogers” for the false allegations they make. Let me translate: That means they have no evidence.
I left the position of county chair to allow others to take the reins as I focus on my campaign for state representative and the commission prepares for new members and new leadership in this difficult time.
The fact that commissioners Moore, Hall and Seals now attack me publicly with false allegations is a product of their desire to insert themselves in a primary election for state representative in which Hall has already declared herself for my opponent, Stephanie Moore. The reason Stephanie Moore, my opponent, is involved should be obvious.
Seals, however, endorsed me so I am at a loss for why he didn’t come to me directly if he had concerns. I can only conclude that he had his eye on the vice chair position in the county and was willing to go along with Hall’s negative smears in order to achieve this leadership goal.
The timing of these smears should surprise no one. With only one month to go until the primary, I am being targeted because I’ve run a highly successful campaign, with the help of my campaign manager Mariah Phelps. Because the Trumpian tactics of my opponent are not working, some who are willing to do anything to gain position have teamed up to attempt to derail my campaign with false allegations for which they produce no proof.
As I said, the first duty of elected officials is to the truth. Hall, Seals, and Moore have failed this crucial test. Instead, they spread falsehoods in the heat of a campaign for personal and political goals.
I hope the people of Kalamazoo will reject this transparent attempt to prevent my victory at the polls through the extraordinarily depraved and orchestrated campaign of deceit by Hall, Seals and Moore.”
– Julie Rogers, Kalamazoo County Commissioner
