Hartzler campaign worker: One of Ike's goons stalked me

It is amazing just how much politics has changed. A worker on Republican Vicky Hartzler's campaign filed stalking charges against a videographer for incumbent Ike Skelton's campaign:

A staff employee of the Hartzler for Congress campaign has filed a sheriff’s complaint against a video "tracker" for Democrat Ike Skelton. Kathleen Midgett, whose duties include travel with 4th Congressional District Republican nominee Vicky Hartzler, filed a complaint on Friday with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department in Harrisonville.


Midgett was leaving Richmond on Friday afternoon with Hartzler when a Skelton videographer who "tracks" Hartzler at campaign visits began following them closely. The driver persisted in tailgating through several counties, darting in and out of traffic while attempting to hold a position immediately behind Midgett. The dangerous tailgating continued for at least 90 minutes, covering about 90 miles. At one point Midgett stopped at a service station where she and Hartzler went inside. The tracker waited for them to emerge, then continued the hunt. This episode finally ended when Midgett pulled in to the Cass County Sheriff's Office to contact law enforcement.



"The campaign will support Kathleen in any legal steps she might take regarding this stupid and dangerous behavior by Skelton’s tracker," said Hartzler campaign spokesman Steve Walsh. "We expect the congressman to instruct his political agents that crude harassment like this is not to occur. This conduct was absurd, pointless, and dangerous. Every driver between Richmond and Harrisonville during this juvenile stunt had to put up with lane-shifting, speed changes, and darting in and out of traffic. As for lying in wait for Vicky and Kathleen to leave the service station - that's simply weird and might very well be a case of stalking.”

A video tracker is a political staffer who tapes a candidate for the opposition. This particular tracker has attended Hartzler events in the past without particular difficulty. Hartzler's practice is to recognize and welcome the tracker during a meeting or rally and to explain to people that the Democrat tracker’s purpose is to videotape a misstatement of some sort, as well to create anxiety for a candidate.

When present at Richmond, Hartzler and Midgett noted that the tracker was being uncommonly pushy and was creating discomfort for the public by pressing closely into conversational groups. Both Hartzler and Midgett were surprised that they were followed out of Richmond, and then stalked all the way to Cass County.

The Hartzler campaign believes the tracker was following Vicky home. While Vicky Hartzler has signed up for public scrutiny and expects rude intrusions from Ike Skelton's goons, her husband, daughter, and extended family should have a reasonable expectation they will not be subjected this boorish behavior. We expect Congressman Skelton to do the right thing and publicly call for an end to his operatives' blatant harassment.