Iowa councilwoman who attacked rival on child safety pleads guilty to endangering children

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 15:31 · Archive

A Republican councilwoman who appeared in a campaign video criticising a Democratic rival for being dangerous to children was previously convicted of child endangerment herself.

Shellie Flockhart, a 55-year-old Dallas Center city councilwoman, appeared in a campaign video criticising Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott's voting record on transgender issues. In the video, created by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, Flockhart stated: 'When it comes to our kids, Sarah is just plain dangerous.' The video was released this month and went viral before an Iowa liberal group disclosed details of Flockhart's criminal history.

In 2017, Flockhart was arrested after being found parked on the grass beside a highway. A police officer found her to have slurred speech and difficulty comprehending questions. A preliminary breath test showed her blood alcohol content was 0.254, three times Iowa's legal driving limit. Her children, then aged 8 and 11, were in the backseat at the time.

Flockhart pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. She was fined and placed on probation for the misdemeanour convictions. In a podcast last year, she acknowledged previously struggling with drug and alcohol addiction but said she had turned her life around after attending rehab.

How it is being reported

• Iowa councilwoman who accused rival of being ‘dangerous’ for kids once pleaded guilty to child endangermentAn Iowa councilwoman who used an attack ad to accuse a rival of being “dangerous” for kids once pleaded guilty to a child endangerment charge. Shellie Flockhart, 55, ripped Democrat congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott’s voting record on trans issues in the ad released this month – before her own skeletons from nine years ago...New York Post · 26 Oct, 15:15
• Mom who starred in $1M campaign ad accusing Democrat of endangering children is exposed as convicted child endangererA Republican, who participated in a campaign warning about an Iowa Democratic candidate being dangerous for their children, got exposed for being convicted of child endangerment herself.Daily Mail · 25 Oct, 05:49

In this story: Shellie Flockhart · Sarah Trone Garriott · Congressional Leadership Fund · Iowa · Dallas Center

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