ORANGE BEACH — Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon believes a "legitimate cabal" is targeting his campaign, spreading rumors to tarnish his reputation in response to his strong, conservative voice.
Tony Kennon and his wife, Paula, recently sat down with 1819 News to address these "political attacks," which include allegations of ethical misconduct and criminal wrongdoing.
The couple began by discussing the recent release of an audio recording of an interaction last September between the Kennons and Orange Beach police officers.
Police investigated a possible domestic violence situation, where the caller told dispatch she saw a naked man beating a woman and screaming at her. The caller stated she was in the area of the Tiki Bar and saw the incident unfold from across the water.
Police responded to the Coastal Resources office, where they believed the incident occurred. They knocked on the door, and Tony Kennon identified himself, telling them his wife was inside. He said, "This is our escape, we get away from everything here."
Tony Kennon denied a domestic violence incident and asked the officers if they wanted to speak with his wife. The officers left.
The Kennons told 1819 News they were at their property next door on the Sunday before Labor Day. They have an association membership to a clubhouse and pool. Tony Kennon said he worked that afternoon, then Paula Kennon joined him at the pool. Before leaving to go home, Tony Kennon said they went to the Coastal Resource property to gather his belongings and change clothes.
"So, [we] came upstairs, came in, went in the room and I was changing clothes. She had already changed," said Tony Kennon.
That's when they heard the knock at the door.
Tony Kennon said the Coastal Resource office is used for recruitment and interviews and is open to school and city administration, as well as council members. He said he uses the office when he needs a quiet place to work.
"I've never spent the night there," he said. "You have nothing in there. It's a desk and chairs. It's an empty office. But when I was talking about. 'This is our weekend getaway,' what I meant was we come over to our property. I just happened to be there changing clothes that night."
The Kennons say they are concerned that someone was likely a victim of domestic violence that night, but they have no knowledge of who that victim was.
When asked if her husband had ever hit her, Paula Kennon said, "That has never happened. As I've stated previously, it didn't happen that night. I don't see that ever happening."
Paula Kennon said no one making allegations has reached out to her to see if she is OK. As an attorney, Paula Kennon said she knows some women are trapped in domestic abuse, and it angers her that those victims may be discouraged from asking for help because of how she has been treated.
"So that's another reason this is suspicious is that if that was truly what they thought was the case, you would think because that's a serious — a very serious situation that a lot of women find themselves in — not me, if that was something that they really thought would have happened or was happening in our lives … that they would have reached out," Paula Kennon said.
"It bothers me that, again, it's nine months later before it comes up, and it's only during election time, and then it comes up," Tony Kennon said. "And it was such, it was an absolutely nothing, innocent night, and now out of that comes all these allegations of misuse of office, misuse of that cover-up."
The Kennons said they haven't been able to come forward with their story because they agreed with the legal and human resources department not to speak publicly about it. Paula Kennon said she wishes the audio of the incident had been released earlier to clear up any misinformation.
The Kennons have been married for nearly 34 years and have lived in Orange Beach for most of their marriage.
"When somebody's been here that long, if they were a wife beater, you would know it," Tony Kennon said.
The Kennons also addressed the rumors that they have used police vehicles to go out to bars. Tony Kennon said he uses police escorts for city-related purposes.
"Police cars don't take me to bars," Tony Kennon said. "They take me to events, they take me to gatherings, they take me to whatever. But we also know in this town, clothing stores have bars, barbershops have bars. So, if I go to Villaggio's for a gathering, there's a bar. You know, Perdido Beach Resort, there's a bar."
Tony Kennon said it is more efficient to have police escorts to events. He said it is also cheaper for the city than using a ride-sharing service. He said council members also use police escorts to events.
Another allegation is that Tony Kennon has connections to Joshua Stapleton, a TikTok influencer who, along with his wife, posts videos with the name "Gulfcoast Stapletons." Stapleton pleaded guilty to 20 counts of sexual exploitation of children. While behind bars, Joshua Stapleton and his wife, Brittani, exchanged emails that were recently made public. In the emails, Brittani Stapleton told her husband that Kennon was asking about them and offered to help if they needed anything.
"I've never talked with them and have never been asked to do anything for them," Tony Kennon claimed.
The Kennons call the "character assassinations" evil and desperate.
"There's no facts to it. There's no truth to it. There's nothing," Tony Kennon said. "I … I wouldn't know them if I saw them. I've never seen a picture of them; I don't know anything about them."
Tony Kennon said his name is used often. He said he has even been contacted to help friends and family avoid traffic tickets, something he has never done. He maintains he has never committed an ethics violation.
The Kennons do have many friends, and some of those connections have led to rumors that the couple engages in "swinging." When asked if they were swingers, the Kennons said they do not judge how others live their lives, but they do not live that lifestyle.
Known for his aggressive tendencies, Tony Kennon said he activates "strategic anger" to create leverage in situations. He compared this strategy to those of President Donald Trump.
"There's a such thing as throwing hand grenades because you want to get a discussion going that nobody wants to have, and I'm willing to do that and I'm pretty good at it," he explained. "But I know that in a negotiation, I mean, you look at President Trump, his negotiations are all over the place, from kind and nice and red carpet to 50% sanctions. Well, that's because you're constantly creating and maintaining leverage over your opponent. And that's what you have to do."
As a mayor, Tony Kennon said it is important to use logic, reason and common sense to get things done. He believes his constituents appreciate that trait.
"In absence of logic and reason, there's going to be an ideology or a selfish agenda," he said. "So, if I see that, yeah, then I become a different person. I become a pit bull because I know this person or entity, or whatever it may be, does not have our best interest. They are not there for a win-win situation. They are there to win at our expense, and when I recognize that, I immediately get in that mode."
As for his campaign, Tony Kennon said he is running on his record. Paula Kennon said her husband is good at his job and she hopes voters can see that.
"People are being so nasty trying to change the vision that people have of him for the city because he's been such a wonderful mayor," Paula Kennon said. "That is not his reputation. His reputation has only been caring for the people that live here."
"Well, they never attacked my record in all the elections," Tony Kennon added. "They never ever attacked my record or accomplishments. They always go after me personally, and believe me, I'm not perfect. I'm the first person to admit it, but I don't have anything that I'm ashamed of."
The Kennons stated that the accusations have harmed their reputation and businesses.
"It's nothing more than political mud-slinging theatrics, is all it is," Tony Kennon said.
With just days to go until the August 26 municipal elections, the Kennons say they will continue to fight.
"He loves the city," said Paula Kennon. "I mean, he really does. I don't know anyone who could do what he does. I don't. I mean, he's amazing to me."
"I possibly would have stepped down this time if I felt there was somebody that could take it and keep it running," Tony Kennon said. "But I didn't feel like there was. And so, I ran again, because I don't want to lose the momentum we created."
Tony Kennon said he wants to end his mayoral run on a positive note when that time comes.
"I'd rather be an ex-mayor with my reputation intact than a mayor with a sleazy reputation," he said. "And I mean, that's why this has been so, so tough on me, just because I feel like – we feel like we've been helpless, just helpless with this bombarding of false information."
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