A political fight over watermelons

It may be known as a political fight over watermelons.

Challenger Jarvis Dortch, who is black, is criticizing opponent state Rep. Brad Oberhousen for passing out watermelons to black voters in rural Hinds County in the District 66 legislative Democratic primary race.

“Over the last week there has been an uproar on social media and I have spoken with voters who felt insulted by my opponent's, Brad Oberhousen, campaign tactics,”  Dortch said in a release. “Voters reported that Oberhousen, accompanied with a paid political hand, drove from house to house in rural Hinds County passing out watermelons to black voters.”

Oberhousen countered that for years, even before he was elected to the state Legislature, that he and family members provided fresh produce from their personal farms and gardens to both black and white members of the community.

“On this particular occasion, I was personally invited to several family functions in the county for the July 4th celebration,” Oberhousen said. “Most knew of my access to fresh produce, including Smith County watermelons. Some of the families requested watermelons for their family functions. I provided them to those who requested  and some who saw them that day asked for extras.”

“My supporters are both white and black families throughout the county where I have lived my entire life,” Oberhousen said. “These supporters have never nor do they now view this with any racial connotations.”

Dortch said Oberhousen posted photos of him passing out watermelons on Facebook, but later removed the photos.

“As many have stated on Facebook, it's shocking that an actual state lawmaker would have such poor judgment to not only do what he did but to posts pictures of the exchanges online,” Dortch said. “How could Oberhousen be so insensitive to the racial stereotyping that these photos advance?”

Dortch said Oberhousen owes the voters of House District 66 an apology for such an insensitive gesture.

Oberhousen said Dortch is ill prepared to lead, and it is even more present in this immature attack on his campaign and campaign supporters. Oberhousen said Dortch has made racially offensive remarks about blacks who support Oberhousen’s candidacy.

Contact Jimmie E. Gates at (601) 961-7212 or jgates@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @jgatesnews on Twitter.