Smyrna Councilman, Employee File Complaints Against Each Other

A Smyrna city councilman and the city’s community relations director are at odds with one another after an argument they had at a city event over the summer, causing them to file official complaints against each other.

Councilman Wade Lnenicka, who is running for mayor, was allegedly campaigning at the city’s Food Truck Tuesday event on July 28 when Community Relations Director Jennifer Bennett asked him to remove signs he and several supporters had propped up against their cars, the Marietta Daily Journal says.

Bennett allegedly told Lnenicka the signs violated city guidelines which forbid signage that competes with the event’s official sponsors, one of whom was the city itself. Lnenicka allegedly told Bennett that she would regret approaching him about the matter, according to the MDJ.

Bennett’s complaint against Lnenicka alleges he intimidated her, while Lnenicka’s complaint against Bennett alleges she was insubordinate and requested that she be disciplined for the incident, the MDJ says. An independent investigator found that Bennett’s claim was backed up by the facts, but advised the city not to punish either party.

Patch has reached out to the city for official comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.