KILLEEN, TX — A Killeen City Council candidate says she is being targeted after a series of attacks against her, most recently including vandalism to her car.
"The way I look at it, is I have to be doing something right if people are intimidated enough to be taking notice... and I’ve never been very good at backing down from bullies,” said Mellisa Brown.
She is running for a city council seat in district two.
Brown says she first experienced issues when she ran for council member at large last year.
"I started receiving some threats that were deemed to be indirect. Then I got arrested at a city council meeting for trying to address the city council members after I had been invited up. Then somebody used my personal identifying information to turn my water and other city utilities off at the house,” said Brown.
Last week, she found her SUV vandalized. She says that police believe that a screwdriver busted through the glass of the brake light.
"I think it’s hard not to feel like you have a target on your back when such a series of events happens to you,” she said.
Brown says this will not deter her from continuing her campaign.
"My daughter just finished an essay for school, she’s nine, and it was on who her role model is, and she said her mom is her role model. And one of the reasons is because her mom is running for city council. I can’t back down after that. As for the city as a whole, nothing is going to change unless the city takes a stand,” said Brown.
Mayor Jose Segarra says he is unaware of similar acts happening to any other city council candidates. He hopes this has nothing to do with a run for council.
Brown stressed that she is certain that the vandalism is not linked to anyone involved in the council.
