BIGCHUMS BREAKS SILENCE, BLASTS "FAKE NEWS" CLAIMS CIRCULATING AHEAD OF SANDY SHORES ELECTION

Mayoral candidate Chumley Bigchums addressed reporters outside the Sandy Shores community center Wednesday, calling recent claims about his record "flat-out lies" and accusing unnamed parties of running a coordinated misinformation campaign in the final weeks before the election.

"I've sat back and let a lot of this slide, and I'm done sitting back," Bigchums said, reading from notes. "Every one of these so-called 'facts' about me is either twisted, made up, or missing the whole story. And I think the people of Sandy Shores deserve better than that."

Bigchums did not specify which claims he was referring to, saying only that "you know the ones," before adding that he'd be happy to clarify "if anyone actually asked him directly instead of printing whatever they're printing."

Asked whether he was referring to statements made by his opponent's campaign, local outlets, or both, Bigchums paused for several seconds before saying, "Let's just say I'm not the one with something to hide here." The candidate also took aim at Weazel News, which he said has "never once" reached out to him for comment despite covering the race extensively. "They'll run a story, they won't call me, and then everybody in this town thinks it's gospel," Bigchums said.

When a reporter from this publication pointed out that The Daily Assumption also had not received comment from his campaign prior to this statement, Bigchums replied, "You're different," and declined to elaborate further. Pressed on specific allegations regarding campaign finance transparency, fire apparatus funding, and county sheriff's office budgeting, Bigchums said those topics were "a distraction from the real issues" and pivoted to discussing his platform, He closed by urging Sandy Shores residents to "think for themselves" and "not believe everything you read," Bigchums did not take further questions. His campaign has not responded to a follow-up request.