KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Coalition of Police and the Kingsport Firefighters’ Association announced Wednesday they have endorsed Republican Ben Mallicote for the Tennessee 2nd House District seat in the upcoming August GOP primary.
Mallicote, a Kingsport attorney and former alderman, is seeking to unseat two-term state Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport.
“This is something of an extraordinary endorsement for us,” Kingsport firefighter Matthew Sorge said in a prepared release. “Ben has made it very clear that he opposes collective bargaining for public employees, but his work and commitment to important public safety issues make him the right candidate for the job.”
Kingsport police officer Dale Farmer echoed: “Ben has worked hard on a number of issues that directly impact the safety of Kingsport’s citizens, and all of our officers know that he will listen to our concerns and act in the citizens’ best interests.”
In the release, Mallicote noted he was a leading advocate for the ordinance making Kingsport the first elected body in Tennessee to outlaw synthetic drugs.
Shipley has been endorsed by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and state Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol.
The Republican primary is Aug. 2. Early voting begins July 13.