Mayoral candidate Alice Rolli cuts ties with consulting firm claiming Proud Boys connection

Mayoral candidate Alice Rolli severed ties with a campaign consultant firm Monday after she said she found out it had "more than a strong connection to Proud Boys."

"Today I confirmed this alarming information and immediately severed ties with the firm," Rolli wrote in an email statement. "Hatred has no place in Nashville. It has no place on my campaign."

Rolli's campaign paid Las Vegas-based political consulting firm McShane more than $250,000 for consulting, advertising and various campaign services since March, according to finance records. Her campaign's separation from McShane was first reported by Axios.

Woodrow Johnston, senior vice president of the firm, disputes Rolli's portrayal of the separation.

He sent a resignation letter reviewed by The Tennessean to Rolli's campaign Saturday, terminating the partnership because they were "too far apart on what direction we want to take the campaign."

He said the separation had "ZERO to do with anything related to any controversy surrounding our firm or dissatisfaction with the work product."

"Any controversy surrounding me or my firm is typically discussed in our very first meeting with any client or potential client," Johnston said. "All I know is that this did not prevent Mrs. Rolli from signing up with our firm."

Reached Tuesday, a Rolli spokesperson reiterated that she cut ties with McShane after finding out about the organization tied to the firm. Rolli has acknowledged that Johnston, individually, resigned on Saturday.

Johnston suggested getting right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys to attend a Nevada rally protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to a conversation reported by the Nevada Current in 2021. McShane was hired to advise the Republican Party in Nevada at the time.

On election night, Johnston wrote to a then-Republican operative about a protest being arranged by Arizona Republican Congressman Paul Gosar. "We might need to do the same here in Nevada," he wrote, according to the email exchange obtained by the Nevada Current. He later added, "which means we need to get the Proud Boys out."

Johnston said he has never worked with or spoken with the Proud Boys, nor has the group sought out services with the McShane firm. The messages reported by the Nevada Current and Washington Post were "one joking reference in one text three years ago," he said.

The non-violent protest that followed did not inhibit vote counting in Nevada.

McShane principal Rory McShane told The Washington Post in 2021 that Johnston was acting independently and "not working on behalf of any client or organization" when the messages were sent.