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Father Bothered By Political Ad Campaign

Reporter: Shannon Samson

Web Producer: Jill Middleton

An Evansville man says his murdered daughter was used as a pawn in the 8th District race for Congress. At issue is a TV advertisement paid for by Republicans attacking Democrat Brad Ellsworth's record on crime.

The grieving father, Jimmy Jenkins, says it's an attack on him too.  Jenkins says, "The family, we all loved her so much. We all cut a piece of her hair off."

Even 16 months after her death, Jenkins breaks down when he talks about his daughter Tara. In April 2005, she was at her friend Sheena Sandage's First Avenue apartment with two male friends when Sandage's ex-boyfriend, Travis Moore, kicked in the door and eventually started shooting, killing the two women, one of the men and then himself.

When Jenkins was asked if this was something he could get past, He says, "No, it's worse every day, and then I turn on the TV, and I've got politicians using this for political gain, which upsets me every time I hear it."

In the ad, the following is said: "Just last year in another case, an inmate convicted of robbery walked away from Ellsworth's safe house and murdered three people."

Jenkins says his son asked if him if anything could be done about the ad, and that's why he is speaking out.

Jenkins called Congressman John Hostettler's campaign office on August 16th . The office manager told us she passed along the complaint to the agency responsible for the ad, The Nationnal Republican Congressional Committee.

Spokesperson Ed Patru says, "The ad spoke for itself. Sheriff Ellsworth has a troubling record on crime, and now everyone in the 8th District has a much clearer idea of his record on crime. The ad is no longer running."

Patru says the ad was pulled not as the result of Mr. Jenkin's request, but because it had simply run its course.

Even though he won't be seeing it anymore, Jenkins says that's little relief since the damage has already been done. Jenkins says, "I want politicians and I want people to stop preying on family's tragedies for their gains, for money, for anything. It's the worst thing you can do, and I want her to rest in peace."

Jimmy Jenkins says his complaint isn't politically motivated because he's never even voted. A check to the voter registration office confirms that. Challenger Brad Ellsworth's campaign office did not want to comment on this story.