The Kent City Council race between Bailey Stober and Ken Sharp continues to heat up.

Stober issued the following statement Wednesday by email to the Kent Reporter in response to comments posted by Sara Sharp, wife of his opponent Ken Sharp, on the Kent Reporter website and Facebook page:

“For the past several months I have sat silent while my opponent’s wife, Sara Sharp, has lobbed numerous accusations at me. She has attacked my qualifications, credibility and my ability to lead. As with any Kent citizen she is entitled to her opinion and I welcome her to continue to do so.

I have not commented simply because I believe in putting people before politics – this race isn’t about her, it is about the residents of Kent. However, this (Wednesday) morning Mrs. Sharp made the following statement, “When it comes to handling money, Mr. Stober is on the record for misappropriations of money and donations (Kiwanis and Halo Network Foundation).”

These allegations are absolutely false and there is nothing to support this defamatory claim. I want to be crystal clear on this issue: if she continues to make unfounded criminal accusations at me I will take the appropriate and necessary steps to defend myself against these defamatory statements.

While I appreciate and respect the public vetting process a candidate goes through, making knowingly defamatory statements is illegal. I have stayed out of the mudslinging throughout this campaign and only felt it necessary to defend myself when accused of criminal and deplorable activity. I’m looking forward to refocusing on the residents and businesses of Kent and continuing my positive, issue driven campaign.”

Sharp and Stober are scheduled for three more candidate forums prior to the Nov. 5 general election. King County Elections mails out ballots Oct. 16.

The two are lined up to appear 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 at the Kent Chamber of Commerce City Council debate at the ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St.; 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at a Panther Lake group candidate forum at Sunrise Elementary School, 22300 132nd Ave. S.E.; and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at a Kent Black Action Commission forum in the Kent Commons’ Green River Room, 525 Fourth Ave. N.