Montgomery County Board of Education member Arica Watkins-Smith called out Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed on Monday for “shenanigans on the radio” before voters headed to the polls on Tuesday.
Watkins-Smith’s son, Austin Smith, is running in the Democrat primary against Jasmyne Crimiel for House District 74 in Montgomery. Reed has endorsed Crimiel.
The seat is vacant because State Rep. Philip Ensler (D-Montgomery) is running for lieutenant governor rather than seeking re-election.
Watkins-Smith responded to a radio interview Reed gave on Monday, discussing the race and why he was supporting Crimiel over Smith. Watkins-Smith said Reed hires “people who have shady/criminal backgrounds.”
Watkins-Smith said on Monday on Facebook, “Dear Montgomery Leadership, Let me say I am tickled pink on the shenanigans on the radio.”
“There is a difference between resignation and firing. Let’s check your leadership picks. You chose a police chief that was accused of sexual harassment. An IT Director you had to fire because of a criminal background. You give contracts to companies that don’t go through proper bid processes,” she added. “You hire people who have shady/ criminal backgrounds and put them over departments to do your bidding. Allegedly, It appears that your executive staff gets a clothing allowance so they can look good using tax payers money. Remember your obligation to the city and really get that crime down. You work with Republicans to slander black elected officials to do their bidding. I won’t have my integrity called into question by someone like you. I stand on my integrity and my principles. Now why don’t you give it a try. People better wake up! He already told us all he has to do is smile at black folks to get their votes.”
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