17th Ward candidate says he's victim of smear campaign

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A candidate for alderman in Chicago's 17th Ward claims he's the victim of a smear campaign.

The 17th Ward includes parts of Chicago Lawn, Marquette Park, Gresham, Auburn Gresham and West Englewood neighborhoods in the city's southwest side.

Tina Hammond saw David Moore's name on the envelope's return address and the candidate's photo on the inside letter. In the letter, "Moore" wrote that he lost a previous election because he was "too busy having sexual relations" with several men and women in his own campaign.

"This is like the lowest of the low, that's what I was thinking," says Tina Hammond, a 17th Ward voter.

Voters in the 17th ward, which has an open aldermanic seat, have also recorded anti-Moore robo-calls.

The self-described "church-going" candidate and his supporters are outraged by what they call a smear campaign.

"My friends, my family, my neighbors, everyone knows me," Moore says. "So I don't have to defend a lie."

"And David, let me tell you again I am proud of you and what you stand for," says Rev. Clay Evans, a Moore supporter.

Glenda Frankli, Moore's principal opponent in the race who is endorsed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, insists she has nothing to do with the anti-Moore campaign despite the way the robo-call ended.

"I would never think of anything like that nor do anything like that," says Franklin. "My campaign had nothing to do with that robo-call."

"Glenda nor anybody around Glenda would support something like that in a robo-call or a mailing," says Rev. Michael Pfleger.

As Father Pfleger spoke, he held yet another anti-Moore mailer complete with mugshots and more criminal allegations. Moore says he understands why he's such a target.

"I am different because I don't have anybody that's controlling me," he says. "I'm an independent voice."