When it began

I voted for permanent housing with wraparound services and security, a HUD project where, by law, registered sex offenders could not live. Opponents spread claims that it would be a shelter for drug users and sex offenders. Crowds booed at the town hall, and the hostility toward me became personal.

After the housing fight settled, I made a motion asking the council to examine whether the then-mayor lived inside city limits, which the law requires. I prepared by pulling my own ten years of residency records in about half an hour. The mayor later resigned, and months of online attacks on my character followed.

Speakers began using their three minutes to demean me. They have First Amendment rights, and I honor them. The behavior moved beyond comment when it was paired with staring, noise-making and following people out of the chamber.

Altered images spread by email list and newsletter. Then came a photo of my car and home posted online, notes left at private gates, and a shredded event sign.

The attacks increased as my re-election campaign picked up. I ran my race while documenting every incident.