BOONE COUNTY- A former campaign contractor is suing a Republican secretary of state candidate for non-payment. 

Teri Reinersman filed a lawsuit in Boone County Court Thursday, accusing Stephen Knipper for not completing an agreed on contract. Reinersman says she was hired to provide social media services on Facebook and Twitter from February 20, 2019  through the Primary Election day, May 21. 

The lawsuit says Reinersman and Knipper came to a verbal agreement on compensation of $3,000 disbursed in three parts; $1,000 at time of hiring, $1,000 45 days from Election Day, and the final payment of $1,000 30 days from Election Day, plus any costs of fees associated with ad campaigns through either social media vendor. 

Reinersman says the last post she provided Knipper was on April 30, which was an endorsement video that she was unable to promote through Facebook.

"I received an error stating I didn't have account permissions to continue, and messaged Mr. Knipper the issue," Reinersman brief reads. "I immediately reached out to Facebook and created a support ticket." 

Reinersman says the next day she was removed as an admin on the Knipper's campaign Facebook page, but Reinersman says she continued to render services during that time including creating two 'watermarks' for Knipper's picture on his social media pages. 

Reinersman says another cost occured on May 9, when one of Knipper's ads went over his ad allowance, causing her to be charged $298.66, she told Knipper she would need to be reimbursed for this. 

"When I emailed Mr. Knipper the Facebook balance, I received an email back that "his campaign was depleted of money and he doesn't have the time to assist in this matter. We can talk after the election," Reinersman said in the lawsuit. 

Reinersman, who is starting a small business, says this has impacted her other accounts because she is no longer able to post through the Facebook Business account. 

Futhermore, Reinserman says Knipper did not include his debt obligation to her in his filings to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. 

Knipper says he has paid Reinsersman for the services she provided.

"I’ve paid Ms. Reinersman via her company name Fortywall Creative. 30 day pre-KREF report will show $1750 paid for consulting and Ad Boosting," Knipper said in an email. "Ms. Reinersman did not have a contract with me and I paid her for her services and ad placement upfront.  I revoked her Admin privileges on information gained that she was using my information for one of my opponents."

Knipper said Reinersman's lawsuit is meant to damage him before the election. 

Republican candidate for Governor William Woods commented on the lawsuit.

“If the allegations are true, not only is this bad for Kentucky’s hard working business owners, this is likely a violation of campaign finance regulations. There is no place for this in Kentucky - citizens deserve better from their elected officials," he said in a statement.

Reinersman is seeking $2,500 and any court costs associated. 

A judge wil hear the case in Boone County on June 19.