As we approach primary Election Day, the attacks on Williamson Families PAC by the Establishment are reaching a fever pitch. Have you noticed? Here’s the general narrative in case you’ve been spending your beautiful spring days outside and not on Facebook: Williamson Families is the big, evil, shadowy, dark money PAC that wants to burn everything down and has declared war on a fictional Williamson County Establishment/swamp. Such things are even posted on the Williamson County Republican Party social media. Nothing surprises me anymore.
The Establishment loves to sneer and say it doesn’t exist. When then-candidate Donald Trump said “I’m going to drain the swamp,” many of us had never truly considered the existence of one. I mean, we suspected it, but Trump was the first one to say it out loud.
In answering the allegation of “there’s no such thing as a swamp,” I revisit President Trump’s inaugural address which seems almost prophetic these days:
“… today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
Everyone is listening to you now. You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.”
Trump knew there was an Establishment. What he did not seem to know, tragically, was how deep and entrenched it really was.
Now take this national view and narrow it down to our beloved Williamson County. Is it crazy to believe there is an Establishment here, too? Is it crazy to think there’s a swamp that needs draining? Is it crazy to think national judicial issues could exist here too? Perhaps my fatal error will be that, like Trump, I have no idea how big and deep it really is. But I’m digging… and I intend to take you, the forgotten men and women of Williamson County, on this journey of discovery with me.
Welcome to the TANGLED WEB blog series. Why a series? Because this elephant is large enough that it can only be consumed one post at a time.
The first place to start is that which is most obvious, most relevant as we approach election day, and that which they speak proudly of: the Sargent Legacy PAC. For some of the newer residents in the county, Charles Sargent was a 22 year occupant of our 61st state representative seat, and a county commissioner for 6 years prior to that, alongside Rogers Anderson, his “brother from another mother” since roughly 1980.
Tragically, Charles Sargent passed due to cancer in 2018, shortly after his retirement from the TN state legislature.
Josh Brown, currently blowing through $31K in his altruistic run for school board in District 4, is the paid, in-house lobbyist for Pfizer and frequently lobbied the then-Chairman of the House Finance Committee, Charles Sargent. Pfizer made thousands in campaign contributions to Sargent, with Brown’s blessings. Charles Sargent hired Brown’s wife, Mary Kate, as his campaign manager and also paid her thousands in consulting fees. When Sargent passed away, Mary Kate Brown was still in command of roughly $35K in campaign funds.
And so to “honor the legacy” of Charles Sargent, the Sargent Legacy PAC was created. It is chaired by Ken Young and the treasurer is non-other than Rogers Anderson. The address of the PAC is Rogers Anderson’s home address.
SO, WHO ARE THEY?
This PAC has no website that states what it stands for or identifies who leads it. It has never identified a vetting process for its endorsements.
Per this “submitted” article in the Williamson Herald, dated April 24, 2022
“The board of the Sargent Legacy Fund is confident that these candidates embody the qualities and philosophy long advocated by Charles,” Sargent Legacy Fund Chairman Ken Young said. “Through their dedicated civic involvement, each have proven they have a strong support for preserving the quality of life for the citizens of Williamson County and have exhibited the type of leadership the Sargent Legacy Fund supports.
The Sargent Legacy Fund is a nonpartisan political action committee focusing on local Williamson County and city elections. It’s named after the late Rep. Charles Sargent and intends to support candidates and causes that he would have supported.”
Let’s analyze this word salad, shall we?
“The board of the Sargent Legacy Fund is confident that these candidates embody the qualities and philosophy long advocated by Charles,” Ok… who is the board? Who is making these decisions? What’s the vetting process?
Read: “You, the average citizen, don’t need to know.”
“Through their dedicated civic involvement…”
Read: Entrenched.
What does “exhibited the type of leadership the Sargent Legacy Fund supports” mean when there’s no statement about the type of leadership that might be.
Read: “Trust us, we’re smarter than you.”
“The SLF is a nonpartisan PAC.” Hold on…. I just experienced déjà vu with the Williamson Strong PAC saying the exact same thing. Could this be a nod to Charles Sargent’s cooperation with the SEIU-funded Williamson Strong back in the day?
Read: “We’ll go whatever way the political wind is blowing.”
“…[Sargent Legacy PAC] intends to support candidates and causes he would have supported.” There are a lot of new folks and newly-awakened folks in town. Could someone please clarify for the folks in the back what causes he would have supported?
Read: A brief review of his record reveals some “causes” for concern.
Due to the mystery shrouding the Sargent Legacy PAC, one must do a little detective work to connect the dots in this tangled web.
Who else is behind Sargent Legacy PAC?
CONFIRMED: Ken Young, chairman of SLF PAC, is a lawyer for Buerger, Moseley, & Carson, PLC, whose clientele includes Williamson County, Williamson Medical Center, and the Williamson County Industrial Development Corp, and whose lawyers donated heavily to SLF PAC and to the campaign of Rogers Anderson. Ken Young is on the board of Williamson Medical Center, a member of Williamson Inc. (the chamber of commerce), and strangely, the Williamson County Foster Care Review Board. Nah… he’s not Establishment. Probably just coincidence.
CONFIRMED: Rogers Anderson, treasurer of SLF PAC, is our esteemed Williamson County mayor. He was elected to the Williamson County Commission in 1986 and then county mayor 20 years ago; he is currently running for his 5th term in office. He may be our very own Nancy Pelosi: been there forever, can’t remember a Williamson County without him, and just as swampy.
99% PROBABILITY: Mary Kate Brown (MKB), wife of Pfizer lobbyist Josh Brown, ran Charles Sargent’s campaign. She would have had to seed the SLF PAC with its first two donations of $20K and $10,458.04 (current value is just over $47K). Oh yeah, and it received $1000 from Pfizer…
This is the same MKB who acted as the statewide delegate coordinator for Mitt Romney (2014) and Jeb Bush (2016), but there are no records of her working for Trump.
Additionally, the Browns (through MKB’s consulting business) have directly campaigned for Rogers Anderson, Sheriff Dusty Rhoades, Franklin Mayor Ken Moore, at least half the county commission, a portion of the school board, including our own Soros-backed board member Jennifer Aprea, amongst others. They are currently backing Jake McCalmon for State Rep 63, Sharon Guffee for Juvenile Court Judge, and Sen Jack Johnson for reelection, to name a few. Mary Kate Brown ran for (and lost) chairman of the WCRP (I understand that was quite the show). Instead, she’s now an unelected board member to the WCRP, and she felt very comfortable assuring her favored candidates she can get anyone on the ballot with enough “time or money” (see video) donated (more on that later when we talk about why four of our candidates are running as Independents). This is also the same WCRP which is required to stay neutral in primary races. (I know, I’m chuckling, too).
And I almost forgot…. Just as COVID paid big dividends to Josh Brown’s employer, profiting off vaccines and the death of every piece of medical freedom legislation at our capitol, it also paid dividends to his wife’s political base in the form of the well-known “non-partisan” Back To School Facebook page, and its accompanying blog, the Bulletin. She tells the 6K parents in that forum that she’s “just a concerned parent” trying to “give parents, children and teachers a VOICE,” while blocking anyone that asks the wrong question. Note: Fellow admins on the page are Jay Galbreath, running for D6 School Board, and Robin Baldree, running for D5 County Commission. Sure sounds like an “average parent” fighting for kids to me.
Who else is in the SLF PAC lineup? Your guess is as good as mine. The Sargent Legacy PAC, our purported savior and purveyor of conservative candidates, is not terribly up front with who they are.
While we’re waiting for clarification (it could be awhile), let’s point out who else is on the Williamson Medical Center board:
Mayor Rogers Anderson, (Treasurer of SLF PAC)
Ken Young (also lawyer for Williamson Medical Center, Chair of SLF PAC)
County Commissioner Dana Ausbrooks, (not running for re-election)
County Commissioner Bert Chalfant, (endorsed by SLF PAC)
County Commissioner David Landrum, (endorsed by SLF PAC)
County Commissioner Matt Williams, (endorsed by SLF PAC)
and on the Williamson Medical Center Foundation board:
County Commissioner Steve Smith, (endorsed by SLF PAC)
Mary Kate Brown, (shadow member of SLF PAC)
Charles Pareigis from the Drury Group (more on that another day).
Additionally, the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce (Williamson Inc.), of which Rogers Anderson and Ken Young are members, has been quietly circulating emails instructing people to vote against Williamson Families candidates. (Yep, you guessed it: more on them later.)
By contrast, Williamson Families has presented our Executive Board, Advisory Board, and Committee Chairs, along with their families, on a stage in an event recorded here. We invest in a website and community outreach events in order to stand in the sunshine and let you know exactly who we are and what we aim to do. And yet the PAC that lives in the shadows wants you to know that we’re the bad guys. Right…
Per the Williamson Herald article:
“The [SLF PAC] endorsements included Deana Hood for circuit court judge; Sharon Guffee for juvenile court judge; Jeff Whidby for county clerk; county commission candidates Ricky D. Jones (District 1), Scott Lucas (District 1), Betsy Hester (District 2), Jennifer Moore Mason (District 3), Robin Baldree (District 5), Bert Chalfant (District 7), Tom Tunnicliffe (District 7), Meghan Guffee (District 10), David Landrum (District 10), Sean Aiello (District 11), Brian Beathard (District 11) and Steve Smith (District 12); and school board candidates Josh Brown (District 4), Ali Wallace Adair (District 10) and Drason Beasley (District 12).”
Which (shocker!) lines up with the endorsements of the BTS/Bulletin:
County Commission:
District 1: Scott Lucas, Ricky Jones
District 2: Judy Lynch Herbert, Betsy Hester
District 5: Robin Baldree
District 7: Bert Chalfant, Tom Tunnicliffe
District 8: Jerry Rainey
District 10: Meghan Guffee, David Landrum
District 11: Sean Aiello, Brian Beathard
District 12: Brian Clifford, Steve Smith
School Board:
District 2: Dan Cash
District 4: Josh Brown
District 6: Jay Galbreath
District 8: Dr. Shauna Graham
District 10: Ali Wallace Adair
District 12: Drason Beasley
Of course the Establishment is going to point at a group of grassroots conservatives that stand to upset their balance of power and yell “Williamson Families BAD!” (Reminiscent of “Orange Man BAD!”) You see it all over their social media. You see it with surreptitious emails from our own Chamber of Commerce. You see the WCRP quietly promoting the Establishment picks. Those that live in dark, shady places generally don’t react well when you shine a light on them.
Not only does Williamson Families seek to shine a light, we seek to be the light.
“Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:18.
Did you know that sunshine is considered a disinfectant? A little light in Williamson County is a good thing.
Please GO VOTE!!
