Mayor Of Small Southern Town Charged With Assault In Yard Work Dispute

Author Phil Harris

September 27th, 2023 10:55 AM

(Photo by Kyryl Gorlov/iStock via Getty Images)

We don’t hand out a “Loser of the Week” award, but maybe we should. The mayor of a small town in Tennessee has been arrested after allegedly assaulting the son of his own girlfriend over a yard work dispute. We don’t know the age of the son, but since he’s unidentified in any of the news reports on this story, there’s a good chance he’s a minor.

According to WSMV-TV, the unnamed victim told authorities that 45-year-old Landon Mathis “made a deal” with him. Mathis promised to pay the kid $40 to weed-whack his yard. However, the victim said Mathis wouldn’t pay him for the job and that’s when things got physical.

Mathis is the mayor of Burns, Tennessee, a small town of about 1,500 people just west of Nashville. Once he refused to honor the weed-whacking agreement, a fight broke out between he and his girlfriend’s son. That’s when Mathis allegedly stepped on the victim’s feet, “body slammed” him into a “neck hold,” and then twisted his nose. Mathis, who is kind of a big fella, has been charged with one count of domestic assault.

Landon Mathis probably lost a few votes and put his political future in serious jeopardy through his unbecoming behavior. But he also did something else. The mayor just reinforced what many Americans already feel: you can’t trust politicians to keep their word. And all of this over some yard work! Way to go, Landon.

Tennessee mayor charged after alleged fight with girlfriend’s son https://t.co/TulcrQB1cN
— WSMV 4 Nashville (@WSMV) September 25, 2023

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

South Carolina Ranks As One Of The Least Politically Engaged States

We are living in an incredibly politically charged time. It seems like the entire world revolves around politics, or at least some people’s whole world. And for the most part that is a good thing. Citizens’ involvement is key to the system of democracy. Letting those political views sway your opinion of individuals or tear apart relationships with friends or family. I have a hard time with that. But enough of that soapbox. Despite what seems like a hyper-politicization of our world there is actually a decline in Americans’ trust in government and as a result political engagement. And both North and South Carolina were ranked as some of the least politically engaged states in the country.

This is a result of a survey/analysis conducted by WalletHub. As Election Day is approaching WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 10 key indicators of political engagement. They range from the percentage of registered voters in the 2020 presidential election to total political contributions per adult population. Keep in mind that WalletHub reports only 66.8% of age-eligible citizens voted in 2020. And that was a record 155 million voters. And of developed nations, the US ranks near the bottom- 30th out of 35- for voter turnout. Voting is such a privilege and integral to our country.

What’s At Stake

While there are several issues at stake with the upcoming elections, turnout will most likely be lower for the midterms. Presidential elections bring the largest numbers almost always. Senate races will be key and North Carolina is a battleground state with everything at stake. But this study ranks both North and South Carolina in the bottom third of states. Keep reading to see exactly where North and South Carolina ranked on the list of politically engaged states, as well as the top 10. Or read the full analysis here.

Least Politically Engaged States
**According To WalletHub**
35. North Dakota

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): N/A

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 74.20%
36. Kansas

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 53.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 77.50%
37. North Carolina

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 49.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 71.90%
38. Nevada

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 36.70%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 76.00%
39. New Mexico

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 42.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 74.90%
40. Mississippi

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 42.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 75.20%
41. Idaho

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 53.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 73.40%
42. Louisiana

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 46.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 70.40%
43. Indiana

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 38.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 75.10%
44. Oklahoma

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 30.50%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 70.30%
45. South Carolina

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 53.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 72.40%
46. Nebraska

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 42.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 76.0%
47. South Dakota

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 43.90%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 69.50%
48. Alabama

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 45.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 64.80%
49. West Virginia

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 34.60%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 68.00%
50. Arkansas

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 32.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 63.20%
Most Politically Engaged States
1. Maryland

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 70.70%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 76.40%
2. New Jersey

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 75.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 82.60%
3. Virginia

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 51.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 76.20%
4. Washington

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 52.40%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 77.30%
5. Oregon

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 56.10%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 79.50%
6. Minnesota

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 69.20%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 84.30%
7. California

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 53.60%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 71.40%
8. Arizona

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 52.00%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 81.80%
9. New York

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 47.80%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 67.90%
10. Iowa

Political Engagement Among Young People (Aged 18 to 24): 63.30%

Political Engagement Among the Elderly (Aged 65+): 76.80%