MCCARLEY — Benjamin Shute, a candidate for Carroll County tax assessor/collector, was surprised recently to see that at least one of his campaign signs has been turned into a rifle target backstop, complete with multiple bullet holes.
Pictures of the sign, with a target placed over it, were posted on the Facebook page of Olen Lehman of McCarley, along with a message reading, “the deer and hogs better look out after Nov. 5.”
The general election is Nov. 8. Shute, a 31-year-old Republican, faces Democrat Pam Mann.
“This don’t give me the best feeling in the world,” Shute said Tuesday.
Lehman said Tuesday that the sign was found in the road and merely used as a backstop for his son’s target practice. He said the reference to Nov. 5 on his Facebook wall refers to the opening of youth deer season in the state.
“The funny thing is we were going to vote for Shute. My wife went to school with him,” he said.
Lehman said Shute’s allegation proves he is unqualified for public office.
Lehman’s wife, Tiffany, said there wasn’t any political message with the posting. She called Shute’s concerns “ridiculous.”
Shute, after talking with Tiffany Lehman Tuesday afternoon, said he knew her but not her husband or the couple’s 6-year-old son, Caden.
After talking with experienced politicians, Shute said he should probably give the Lehmans the benefit of the doubt.
He said a cousin of his, Jake Shute of Winona, had called him about the Facebook posting.
The candidate said he’s contacted the Mississippi secretary of state’s office and was advised to contact Carroll County Sheriff Jerry Carver and the local news media.
He said the secretary of state’s office is investigating the vandalizing of campaign signs in Itawamba County.
“I think this goes a little beyond vandalizing,” Shute said.
The photo of the target on the sign was removed from Lehman’s Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday night, Tiffany Lehman posted the following on her husband’s Facebook page:
“Dear Carroll County Voters,
“A six year old little boy recently found a political sign by his home and his creative little mind decided it would be the perfect target holder and used it for just that. He, with his dad’s help, practiced shooting his new rifle at the target. He did so well that his dad posted a picture right here on Facebook. This politician printed a copy of the picture and took it to a local newspaper.”
Tiffany Lehman described her son as a “sweet little boy” and said she was friends with Shute until she got the call Tuesday from the Commonwealth.
“When you go to the polls, remember my sweet boy and say ‘NO’ to Benjamin Shute. If he can treat a little boy this way, what will he do with a political office?,” she wrote.
Shute replied this morning that he merely notified the authorities as he was instructed to do by the secretary of state’s office.
In response to the controversy, Shute said, “I am not at all in any way for gun control. What I am for is parental supervision of minor children with firearms.”
He said officials at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday afternoon that they were busy with bigger problems.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
