Kerens Council Candidate Jennifer Lynn Combs Releases Statement After Leaving Candidate Forum

Kerens city council candidate Jennifer Lynn Combs left a candidate forum today and posted a public statement on Facebook describing what she called harassment, bullying, and intimidation at the event.

Combs said she attended the forum despite online harassment she had already been experiencing and despite warnings about potential disruptions. Shortly after she arrived, she said a person made inappropriate comments toward her that "had absolutely nothing to do with city council or city business."

She chose to leave, she said, so the person causing the disruption would stop and the event could continue without further distraction. She credited the women at KESA for hosting the event and said she did not want them to have to deal with the situation.

"Running for office should never look like that," Combs wrote.

Combs' Full Statement

The following is Jennifer Lynn Combs' complete statement as posted to Facebook on April 11, 2026:

I showed up today despite the online harassment, bullying, and intimidation because I care about this community and I believe in showing up.

Unfortunately, shortly after I arrived, a person decided it was the perfect opportunity to make inappropriate comments toward me, comments that had absolutely nothing to do with city council or city business.

At that point, I made the decision to leave the event in hopes that the person causing the disruption would stop and allow the event to continue without further drama, so citizens could meet the candidates without unnecessary distractions. The amazing women at KESA didn't have to deal with all that.

Unfortunately, the drama was exactly what I expected and what I had been warned about.

Running for office should never look like that.

Some people like to pretend they're brave by having others publicly bash their opponents, then stand back and make a mockery of what a candidate for city council should stand for.

That's not leadership. That's cowardly. It's not something I will ever stoop to.

I saw what happened today. None of this was funny. Not the comments. Not the behavior. Not the way the situation was handled.

Leadership isn't about tearing others down. It's about respect, integrity, and how you carry yourself, both when people are watching and when they aren't.

The drama needs to end. It's not helping anyone, not the citizens, not our town, and certainly not anyone's mental health.

I believe in standing on my own character, who I am today, my own work, and my commitment to this community.

If you want to vote for candidates who are stirring unnecessary drama, more power to you. If you want to vote for the people who show up, get the work done, and refuse to lose themselves in dirty politics, rumors, and everything flying through this town, then do that.

Either way, I wish it was May 2nd already.

I still care, and that's why I'm still here.

But your girl is mentally tired.

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