CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A recent miscommunication involving funding of Land Between the Lakes has highlighted an ongoing conflict between U.S. Rep. Mark Green and the mayor of Stewart County, culminating in a string of profanity laced text messages sent by the mayor.

Some Kentucky news sites reported in late April that LBL’s Recreation & Heritage budget would get a massive budget cut from the U.S. Forest Service, to the tune of zero dollars, causing concern for many nearby Tennessee and Kentucky residents.

However, it appears the announcement was based on incomplete information disseminated by an individual at the Forestry Service. Green posted on Facebook on April 23 that he had spoken with USFS acting area supervisor Tim Pohlman, who said the information was inaccurate, and no budget had yet been proposed for FY22.

Green followed that statement one day later with another post explaining that the confusion had been caused by a proposal to fund LBL Recreation & Heritage through a different account.

Several days later, Stewart County Mayor Robin Brandon took to Facebook claiming Green, as well as Sen. Marsha Blackburn, “won’t lift a hand or raise any voice to protect the LBL.”

When asked about his comments, Brandon told Clarksville Now that his issues with LBL funding go beyond the budget cut confusion, claiming that, since 2008, funding has dropped from $2.8 million to $77,000.

“We need a Band-Aid right now, but we need a permanent fix,” Brandon said.

Clarksville Now has requested documentation from the U.S. Forestry Service concerning Brandon’s claim about diminished funding.

A history of conflict

This is not the first time Green and Brandon have had disagreements, though. In a series of text messages obtained by Clarksville Now, sent in December 2020, Brandon condemned Green for his vote to override former President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act.

“(Green) can stay in his f—ing mansion. Until patriots burn it down. This a–hat will f–k the President on Jan. 6th, too,” Brandon said in one of the texts, sent to a Green staffer. “You and your a–hat congressman stay the f— out of (Stewart County), because if you don’t, I’ll show up everywhere you show your face, just to shout you down and remind people how you betrayed our President. You f–sticks don’t get it but you will. You think I’m rude and crude? You’ll wish for the days of rude and crude.”

“F— your mother and f– Mark Green’s mother too and I’ll tell him myself,” another message reads.

When asked about the texts, Green said he would no longer communicate directly with Brandon.

“He threatened my staff and he threatened me, so I will not be taking his phone calls,” Green told Clarksville Now.

“If you look at the unprofessional nature of his text messages to me and my staff, I think people will understand why I will not be taking his phone calls. It’s important to stress to the people of the county that I will always take their calls. … I will always work hard for the people of Stewart County; I just won’t be taking calls from Robin Brandon ever again.”

In response to criticism over NDAA vote, which includes provisions requiring a study of toxic exposure of veterans who served at K2 Air Base in Uzbekistan, Green said his focus was on supporting the service members.

“This defense bill is not perfect, but it gives our men and women in uniform the pay raise they deserve. It’s Congress’ duty — and should be our honor — to care for those who serve in our armed forces,” Green said in a statement.

When asked about the texts, Brandon acknowledged sending them, but said they were in the past.

“Everything in those texts was related to the National Defense Authorization Act and our fundamental disagreement on whether that should have been voted for or against. It was specific to that, nothing personal.”

In a reversal from previous statements, Brandon went on to say that he was pleased with Green’s advocacy for LBL.

“Any disagreement that Congressman Green and I have had in the past, that’s national, and I try to keep national politics out of local politics,” Brandon said.