Maryville candidate files bullying report after driver makes death threats

A Maryville candidate for the Tennessee House of Representatives says she received death threats while campaigning outside the Blount County Public Library.

Karen Gertz, a Democrat, is running against Republican Tom Stinnett to replace state Rep. Bryan Richey.

Gertz told Knox News she was campaigning on October 19, when the driver of a truck shouted, “This is a good place to die, motherfuckers.”

Gertz and her mother, who was helping with the campaign, were shaken and could not get the truck’s license plate.

But the same thing happened again on October 21 at the same place. This time the driver shouted something about a civil war.

The second time, she was alongside three campaign volunteers and a reporter from the Daily Times, which covers Blount County.

“I maybe expected some of the signs to be stolen… but I certainly didn’t expect to be threatened,” she told Knox News.

Gertz reported the threats to the Maryville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Blount County Election Commission.

The Maryville Police Department confirmed to Knox News that a report was filed, but did not share it. Blount County Elections Administrator Moe Click and Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp did not respond to voicemails.

Gertz told Knox News she was particularly concerned about the threat because of the ease of access to her personal information as a candidate.

“It makes me very, very nervous for me and for my mother (who lives with me),” she said.

Early voting runs through October 31. Gertz said Click told him he would notify poll workers about the driver.

Knox County Elections Administrator Chris Davis said he hasn’t heard of similar reports in Knox County.

Allie Feinberg reports politics for Knox News. Email her: [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg

This article originally appeared on the Knoxville News Sentinel: Maryville candidate files police report after driver makes threats.