City Councilman Jack Benson said mailers sent out by a local Tea Party political action committee (PAC) are "dishonest."
He said, "They are full of partial truths, half truths and plain out falsehoods."
One mailer from the Citizens for Government Accountability and Transparency has Larry Grohn, a Tea Party member, as the good guy and Councilman Benson as the bad guy in the District 4 contest..
There is a similar mailer backing Ken Smith against incumbent Pam Ladd in District 3 and one in support of Chip Henderson in District 1.
Mark West, local Tea Party leader, said several Tea Party leaders formed a PAC in order to be able to be able to contribute to candidates they support.
He said the group's slate includes Mr. Grohn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Henderson and Roger Tuder in District 2.
Mr. West said, "We are a group of concerned citizens seeking to promote qualities that have been sorely lacking in our local government.
"We are dedicated to promoting and supporting limited government, fiscal conservatism and free markets by pursuing the values and principles enumerated within the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions. We seek to accomplish this through both direct candidate support and issue-specific advocacy."
Nancy Patty is treasurer for the group.