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Samantha Hayes ReportingPolitics can be dirty! Mudslinging is common this close to an election. But chances are you've never heard anything like this.
A heated exchange involves the race for Summit County Sheriff. A write-in candidate is the only challenger to Sheriff Dave Edmunds.
The challenger says a friend of the Sheriff tried to force him out of the race by making personal threats in a phone call-- a phone call that was recorded.
Tonight the Sheriff and challenger met in Park City. It was a question and answer session with other candidates, but this one is attracting a lot of attention because of allegations of slander, which have prompted a lawsuit.
Both Dave Edmunds and challenger Brody Taylor want your vote for sheriff of Summit County. But in this race there is more on the line than winning or losing office. Reputations are at stake.
Brody Taylor, Candidate: "I'm a write-in candidate for Summit County Sheriff's Office. Nine and a half years for the county. I feel like the huge buck everybody wants in deer season. I've been accused of being an adulterer, a rapist, and everything else. I don't know where to go. I want the citizens to know I'll fight for you guys till I have nothing left."
Brody Taylor says he was accused of rape by a man who has known the sheriff for years, a man named John Moon.
Brody Taylor, Candidate: "He said, 'If you don't pull your signs down today, I'll go to the Park Record and the Summit County Bee and tell everyone you raped my daughter.'"
Brody Taylor's brother and campaign manager, Jason Taylor, says he recently called Moon and confronted him over those accusations, and recorded their conversation.
(Phone recording) Jason Taylor, Candidate's Brother: "Did you tell Brody that if he doesn't pull all of his signs down and drop out of the election you're going to the Park Record?"
John Moon: "That's my next call. I have a call in and I'm waiting for them to call me right now."
Jason Taylor, Candidate's Brother: "Really? So why didn't you go to the authorities with this John?"
John Moon: "Uh, it's because I am trying to avoid that. All I'm just saying is just pull his name and everything will go away again."
(End of phone recording)
Brody Taylor: "We hired an attorney and filed a lawsuit against him, Mr. Moon."
In the lawsuit, Brody Taylor says the rape accusations stem from a relationship with Moon's daughter nearly eight years ago, and on information and belief that Moon is a longtime personal friend of the incumbent county sheriff Dave Edmunds.
But Sheriff Edmunds says he has not spoken to Moon for years.
Sheriff Dave Edmunds: "The first I heard about it is when I read about it. I know nothing about this. It has nothing to do with me and my campaign. Frankly, I don't have anything else to say about that."
Brody Taylor: "Win or lose this election, we are going ahead with the lawsuit being filed."
Mr. Moon has yet to make any public response to the lawsuit. He would not take our calls tonight.
