Iowa Councilwoman Who Criticized Rival for 'Endangering Kids' Had Past Child Endangerment Conviction
Shellie Flockhart pleaded guilty to child endangerment and drunk driving in 2017, a fact that emerged after she appeared in an attack ad against Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott.
An Iowa councilwoman who recently appeared in a political attack ad criticizing a rival for being “dangerous” for children has a past conviction for child endangerment. Shellie Flockhart, a Dallas City council member, pleaded guilty to child endangerment and drunk driving in 2017, according to court records.
Flockhart was featured in an ad released this month by the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC supporting Republicans, which targeted Democrat congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott. The ad focused on Trone Garriott’s voting record, with Flockhart stating, “Sarah Trone Garriott voted to let grown men in girls’ bathrooms” and “When it comes to our kids, Sarah Trone Garriott is just plain dangerous.”
Trone Garriott, a former Iowa state senator, has faced criticism for votes against banning biological males from women’s locker rooms and female sports. The ad highlighted these votes, framing them as a threat to children.
However, an Iowa liberal group unearthed details of Flockhart's criminal record following the ad's release. The Washington Post reported that Flockhart's 2017 guilty plea stemmed from an incident where she was found parked on the side of a highway while intoxicated with her two children, ages 8 and 11, in the car. Police reports indicated slurred speech and difficulty comprehending questions, with a preliminary blood alcohol reading of 0.254, more than three times the legal limit in Iowa. A subsequent test registered 0.192.
Flockhart has since called the incident a “grave mistake” and a “profound failure in judgment” that endangered her children and shattered trust. She stated that she fulfilled all legal requirements at the time and has since committed to sobriety. Flockhart also accused Trone Garriott of “weaponizing” her conviction and labeled it a form of “spiritual abuse.”
Flockhart's position has drawn support from Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA), who is seeking a third term in the IA-03 district where Trone Garriott is running. Nunn defended Flockhart, criticizing Trone Garriott for attacking “a mom who battled addiction.” The Cook Political Report indicates that the district is leaning Democrat ahead of the November election.