Liberty Mayor Greg Canuteson Uses AI Deepfakes in Attack Ad on Opponent

 

Liberty Mayor Greg Canuteson 

By Brice McCuiston 

Liberty, MO – With a scathing Facebook ad, Mayor Greg Canuteson escalated the mayoral race with an inflammatory attack on conservative opponent Gieselle Fest, accusing her of supporting the KKK and misrepresenting city finances. Critics call it a desperate smear campaign, while supporters see it as truth-telling. The heated race continues to intensify. The video ad shows Fest with a protest poster that states, Defund the Police. Mayor Greg Canuteson's claim, therefore, seems counterintuitive, unless there is specific evidence that Fest holds unusual views for her political affiliation.

Upon making contact with Fest, she claimed that the photo of her in the video is an AI deepfake, doctored from a still photo taken from a video that she posted on Facebook,  on February 19th.  

see https://www.facebook.com/Gieselle4Liberty/videos/1010401117603302/

Here is the thing. Gieselle Fest is known as a conservative Republican. These types aren't  usually into defunding police.  They tend to be law and order types. This lil rock finds Mayor Greg's claim to be strange and unusual. But who knows, maybe Fest is that rare Republican who is all about exposing police brutality and protesting with BLM.  If she is really that progressive we just might be voting for her. 

Original image 

Doctored Image in Canuteson's attack ad

Upon reviewing Gieselle Fest's public statements and campaign materials, there is no evidence to suggest that she supports defunding the police. On the contrary, her campaign emphasizes support for law enforcement and firefighters, coupled with a commitment to fiscal responsibility. In a recent post, Fest stated, "WE have to support police and firefighters BUT … not the cost of taxing citizens to death." This aligns with her broader platform advocating for no new taxes. At a minimum, Mayor Greg Canuteson's claims that Fest supports defunding the police appear to be unfounded and inconsistent with her publicly expressed positions.

Assessing Mayor Greg Canuteson's Leadership Amid Accusations of Abrasiveness

Mayor Greg Canuteson of Liberty, Missouri, has recently come under scrutiny due to concerns about his confrontational demeanor and its impact on his effectiveness as a leader.​

Background

Greg Canuteson, a member of the Democratic Party, has a long history of public service in Liberty. He served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1993 to 1997 and was first elected as Liberty's mayor in 2008. After a hiatus, he returned to the mayoral office in 2023, with his current term set to run through 2025. ​en.wikipedia.org

Controversial Incidents

Tensions flared at a recent community meeting at the Liberty Community Center, where discussions over the proposed new Police Building and looming property tax increases sparked a confrontation between local resident Carrie Lonsdale and Mayor Greg Canuteson.

Lonsdale, an army veteran and mother of four, became vocal when discussion moved  to a tax increase slated for the next year. While listening to Mayor Canuteson speak, Lonsdale says she was caught off guard when the mayor looked at her and told her to "wipe the smirk off your face."

The comment sparked an immediate response from Lonsdale, who was visibly upset by the mayor's tone. "I exploded," she said, recalling how she stood up for herself and told the mayor he was "out of his lane" and needed to "get back in his lane." She also reminded him that he was an elected official who could be voted out of office.

The exchange escalated, and Lonsdale was asked to leave the room, though she refused. "I wasn’t going anywhere," she said, adding that the mayor’s comments were uncalled for. 

Controversy over Confederate Symbols

In June 2023, during a city council meeting, Mayor Canuteson engaged in a heated exchange with resident Dwayne Holtzclaw over the presence of a Confederate marker in a city cemetery. A headstone in the cemetery has a dedication to Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist terror group.  Canuteson labeled Holtzclaw a "racist" and a "Confederate coward," accusing him of threatening city council members and celebrating Confederate symbols. ​kmbc.com+1kansascity.com+1   

There is a pending lawsuit over the matter between the city of Liberty and Holtzclaw. Liberty brought the suit to in an attempt to remove the dedication Nathan Bedford Forrest. 

This confrontation drew mixed reactions. Some community members, including Kansas City gay rights activist Horny Justice, praised Canuteson for his stance against Confederate symbolism, commending him for addressing the issue head-on. However, others felt that the mayor's approach was overly aggressive and unprofessional.​ x.com

Fest related to this lil rock that while she has ancestors who were civil war veterans buried in the same cemetery, she does not support the continued display of the dedication to Nathan Bedford Forrest, which puts her in agreement with Canuteson.  "I actually have more “Yankees than rebels in my family." she said. 

Furthermore, she stated that the clip, which portrays her as supporting lynching, was taken out of context, from a city council meeting where she made reference to historical lynchings that were conducted in Clay County. She was keen to emphasize that engaging in historical discussion of the sad history of racialized lynching is needed to bring awareness of these unfortunate chapters of our local history and she stated that she  is horrified the Canuteson would try to twist it to unfairly paint her as a racist.  

Mayor Canutesons Aggressive and Abrasive Personality

A video circulated on social media platforms depicts individuals expressing feelings of being "attacked and terrorized" by Mayor Canuteson's actions, suggesting that some citizens perceive his behavior as intimidating.  see link here: ​facebook.com 

Supporters argue that Mayor Canuteson's directness is a reflection of his commitment to confronting issues like racism and that his forthright approach is necessary for progress. Conversely, critics contend that his abrasive style may alienate constituents and hinder constructive dialogue, potentially undermining collaborative efforts within the community.

Mayor Greg Canuteson’s statement is aggressive, accusatory, and politically charged, aiming to discredit an individual named Gieselle by associating her with racist ideologies and legal frivolousness. The statement is highly confrontational, using strong, emotionally charged language such as “Enough is enough” to indicate frustration. The direct accusations—“celebrate the First Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan” and “defending the lynching of black men”—are serious and inflammatory. If true, these would be deeply problematic actions, but if exaggerated or misrepresented, they could be seen as an attempt to delegitimize a political opponent. The phrase “wasting taxpayer money on frivolous claims” is a common political tactic used to paint someone as irresponsible or abusive of public resources. The phrase “Stop trying to run down our city” frames the opponent as an antagonist to Liberty, reinforcing an "us vs. them" narrative.

If Gieselle has indeed engaged in the actions described, Canuteson is positioning himself as someone who is standing up against racism and unnecessary legal actions. If these claims are unfounded or exaggerated, he risks electoral  consequences, particularly if the accusations about celebrating the KKK or defending lynching are unprovable. By linking Gieselle Fest to a court case in Clay County, he suggests a pattern of legal battles that could be investigated further—this could imply political motivations behind her actions or, conversely, raise concerns about city leaders targeting a critic unfairly.

Supporters of Canuteson may see this as a strong stand against racism and misinformation, reinforcing his image as a bold leader. Others may interpret this as bullying, defamatory, or an abuse of power, particularly if Gieselle has legitimate concerns about city finances. The statement risks polarizing the community, as it does not invite dialogue but rather seeks to discredit an individual in absolute terms.

The mayor's  statement lacks the decorum expected of an elected official. Public officials are expected to engage in civil discourse, even when addressing strong disagreements. If Gieselle is spreading misinformation about the city’s finances, the appropriate response would be to provide factual corrections rather than personal attacks. While Canuteson is entitled to defend himself and the city, targeting a citizens publicly on social media, in particular one Carrie Lonsdale, raises ethical concerns about the role of elected officials in criticizing individuals.

Mayor Canuteson's forceful political attack frames Gieselle as a harmful force in the community. While it may resonate with those who share his perspective, it risks alienating residents who prefer a more measured and fact-based approach to political disagreements. The accusations he levels are serious, and if he cannot substantiate them, they could backfire, damaging his credibility and exposing him to legal risks.​

The debate over Mayor Greg Canuteson's leadership style highlights a broader discussion about the balance between assertiveness and diplomacy in public office. As Liberty approaches its next mayoral election, residents will have the opportunity to assess whether Canuteson's approach aligns with their expectations for effective governance. As Gieselle Fest put it. "We want kindness and respect, this video is false, inaccurate, misleading and tears people down. Anyone who disagrees with Greg is labeled a racist.My sins are standing up to a lawyer based authoritarian regime. The underdog who refused to give up.".