Saying she was being harassed and intimidated, Republican state Rep. Mary Franson filed a restraining order against her former boyfriend, McLeod County GOP chairman Eric Harpel.

Franson, who lives in Alexandria, said in a restraining order petition filed last month in Douglas County court that Harpel stalked her and sent threatening e-mails and text messages.

In one instance, Franson reported: ""I asked him when I could get my belongings and he said he wanted my panties in exchange. I told him he was a pervert and to get out -- he left."

A week before, Franson claimed, Harpel surprised her at her St. Paul apartment, where she lives during the legislative session. He asked to meet her at a neighboring restaurant, Senor Wong's, but she refused.

Franson, who is divorced and has three children, declined to comment Tuesday. Harpel could not immediately be reached for comment.

In the court filing, Franson frames Harpel as jealous and insecure, erroneously accusing her of being romantically linked to an array of constituents and business acquaintances.

Franson

"He also accuses me of all kinds of lewd behavior over e-mail, none of which has been true," she wrote.
She included several text messages allegedly sent by Harpel. "I could rattle of hundreds of lies you told me," he apparently wrote in one message.

Franson included an e-mail in which Harpel alleges she let the hubris of being elected sully their relationship.

"You were manageable until you started getting letters and emails that started with the word 'honorable,' " Harpel wrote in an e-mail to Franson.

The restraining order remains in place two years.

City Pages broke the story about the restraining order early Tuesday. City Pages' full report can be seen here.