Sangamon County Democratic Party Chair Diana Carlile said a precinct committeeman resigned after sending messages to a candidate for Springfield City Council calling for her to withdraw from the race.
Carlile said on the county party’s Facebook page on Thursday that the committeeman admitted to the interaction with Ward 8 candidate Teresa Tran and resigned before Carlile could ask him to do so.
Tran posted on her campaign Facebook page that the man gave her a deadline to withdraw from the race, and said he had connections that would work to always keep her out of political office if she remained on the ballot. Tran said the messages also had racial overtones.
Tran is running for the seat held by Alderwoman Erin Conley.
Carlile and Conley both denounced the committeeman’s messages to Tran, saying intimidation, harassment and bullying are unacceptable.
Conley added last week that she welcomed Tran to the race and looked forward to a healthy discussion of the issues.
