The son of 3rd District House candidate Scottie Mayfield has admitted slashing the tire of a staff member of the campaign team of Rep. Chuck Fleischmann.
Michael Mayfield confessed to Kingston Police that he was responsible for the damage to the tire on a vehicle belonging to Tyler Threadgill, Fleischmann campaign manager.
He is due to face a vandalism charge for the Tuesday incident.
Kingston Police said the incident was caught on surveillance video at the Roane County Courthouse.
Candidate Mayfield said In a statement, "On behalf of my family and my campaign, I want to apologize to Mr. Threadgill, Rep. Fleischmann, and to the voters for this act. I am truly sorry and embarrassed. Michael will be making his own apology to Mr. Threadgill and has made several attempts to reach him by phone today. Michael is prepared to make full restitution for the damage that was done to Mr. Threadgill's tire."
The Fleischmann campaign said, "We understand they have apologized, but the question is: did they do so because they are sorry or is it politically motivated because they got caught? Just yesterday, the Mayfield campaign, including the candidate, said it was not them and they did not know anything about it. Just last week their political consultant said they would not engage in this kind of dirty politics, and now they have. Is this indicative of how the entire Mayfield campaign will be run?'"