This story has been updated.
Metro Councilman Michael Craddock, the challenger in what has turned into a heated race for Criminal Court clerk, has demanded incumbent David Torrence release “swipe records” to show how often he uses his card to enter and leave the workplace.
“It is well-known that my opponent takes personal time during the week while on the taxpayers' payroll,” Craddock said in a written statement.
According to Craddock, Metro General Services maintains records of cards that are used by Metro employees to access buildings. Craddock has asked Torrence to show records that detail the past four years “so that the taxpayers can see first-hand the days that he shows up for work.”
When contacted by The City Paper, a Criminal Court office employee said Torrence was not available for comment because he is on vacation.
Minutes later, Torrence called back to say Craddock would “need to take [his request] up with Metro Legal,” adding “They don’t release any of that information on elected officials for security reasons. That’s my understanding about it.”
Asked for his response on Craddock’s charge that he’s frequently away from his office, Torrence called it “plain nonsense.”
“You can reach me five days a week at 862-5611,” he said.
Craddock said he didn’t know Torrence was out of the office when he issued the statement.
Torrence, whose later father Joe Torrence held the office for many years before him, has been Davidson County’s Criminal Court clerk for the past 16 years. The position offers a salary of $125,000 per year.
Meanwhile, Craddock, who represents parts of Madison, also used his written statement to point out that he attended his 174th consecutive Metro Council meeting last night.
Leading up to Election Day on May 4, Craddock promised to unleash an array of criticisms on his opponent. Early voting for county elections begins April 14.