Ex-Campaign Manager Takes Out Restraining Order On House Hopeful

NASHVILLE, TN -- The ex-girlfriend and former campaign manager of a Nashville Democrat running for the State House filed a protective order against him, prompting a police investigation.

Terry Clayton, 60, is one of four candidates running in District 54, the seat held by State Rep. Brenda Gilmore, who is running to succeed the retiring Sen. Thelma Harper in Senate District 19.

On Thursday, Clayton's former girlfriend and campaign manager told North Precinct detectives Clayton pushed and struck her on the arms during a June 27 argument about campaign documents at the Bordeaux Library, according to The Tennessean, though that incident was not reported to police at the time. On July 10, she said Clayton tried back over her with his car as she walked into the Clarksville Pike Walgreens. She did report that incident to police but she wasn't hit and police said they did not have probable cause against Clayton.

Thursday, a judicial commissioner issued the protective order.

Clayton did not respond to the newspaper's request for comment Friday.

Clayton, who ran unsuccessfully for Metro Council in 2015, is running against Lola Denise Brown, Scott Davis and Vincent Dixie in the District 54 Democratic primary, which in that deeply blue district is tantamount to election.

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