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Tina Renner, one of two West Virginia school bus drivers suspended for attending the Jan. 6 rally that took place before the riot at the U.S. Capitol, has announced that she is running for Jefferson County Circuit Clerk.
“This past year I’ve had to fight battles that I never, ever thought I’d have to fight. It was difficult but with the help of God and the overwhelming amount of support I received here in Jefferson County I was able to stand up for my rights and prevail,” Renner wrote in a Facebook post shared on Saturday.
“I’ll always be grateful for all the support I received from friends, neighbors, and even total strangers. Jefferson County has been my home for over 30 years, and it has always supported me one way or another, as both a business owner and resident. Now it’s time for me to give back to my home and the county that I love. That’s why I’ve decided to run for Circuit Clerk – so that I can make our community even better and so that I can stand up and fight for everyone who has stood behind me when I needed the support.”
On an earlier post, Renner commented on the struggles over the past two years.
“The past two years have been difficult for all of us,” she said. “I’m sure that there’s not a single person in Jefferson County who hasn’t been affected in some way by COVID-19, but I believe that our experiences have made us stronger and that it’s now time to move forward. This includes ending mask mandates and returning to in-person, face-to-face meetings.”
“As you know, some of our elected officials have become petty tyrants and have used COVID-19 as an excuse to exert unnecessary control over their employees and the public,” she continued. “As your Circuit Clerk, I promise to work with the Jefferson County Commission to remove all mandates and restrictions enacted by my opponent in response to COVID-19.”
Renner and the other school bus driver, Pamela McDonald, sued the county school superintendent after being placed in leave and would be cleared of any wrongdoing, according to their attorney.
Supporters of Trump, the women rode on a bus chartered to attend the January 6 rally in Washington and were dropped off at the Holocaust Museum, before walking to the Washington Monument on the National Mall to hear Trump speak to supporters, the West Virginia Record reported, citing the complaint filed by their attorney.
Renner, McDonald and three other women later walked about 1.5 miles to the Capitol, according to the complaint, but they “did not cross any barricades or barriers and at all times remained in the area designated for public occupation.”
While Renner and another woman then sat on the steps of the Reflecting Pool, “due to being cold and tired,” while the others walked closer toward the Capitol, though they “never crossed any barricades or into any prohibited areas, where they observed the large crowd and the rally taking place.”
The women said they didn’t witness violence or destruction, according to the newspaper.
“They only experienced and participated in a peaceful protest and political rally for President Trump, who spoke at the rally,” the complaint stated. “They did not witness, nor did they participate in, the lawless actions which occurred that day closer to, and within, the Capitol building. …
“They were among the thousands upon thousands of peaceful protestors and rally participants that day who exercised their First Amendment protected speech in support of President Trump.”
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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