Mayoral candidate Jill Carter said the lawsuit filed by a former campaign aide on Tuesday seeking reimbursement for cell phone bill and office expenses is politically motivated.
“I have to question the timing of this,” she said. “A lawsuit for that amount is unnecessary.”
Ellen Townsend, a former campaign aide for the mayoral campaign, filed a lawsuit against the candidate on Tuesday seeking $236.15 for expenses incurred while working for the campaign.
Townsend, who is a legislative aide for Republican State Delegate Warren Miller, said the Carter campaign failed to pay for several expenses she incurred during her tenure, including a cell phone bill, parking and money for office supplies.
“I have been in touch with Jill and her campaign manger asking to be reimbursed since June. They have repeatedly admitted they owe the money,” she said in a phone interview.
Townsend said she worked for Carter from April to May, primarily recruiting volunteers.
But Carter said she was not made aware of the dispute until recently. “Hearing about this is a surprise to me. I did not see the billuntil last week.”
Court records indicate that Townsend was sued by Discover and Visa for $16,000 of unpaid credit card debt. She said she has since settled both lawsuits.
“I don?t think it changes the fact that Jill owes me money,” she said. “I?m not perfect, but I tried to do the right thing with my debt and I would expect someone to do right by me.”
