MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS News) - Rutherford County Assessor of Property Rob Mitchell is calling for an independent investigation after he says he learned that a Tennessee Division of Property Assessments employee allegedly monitored social media activity involving members of his family. Scroll down to get a better look at a message sent to WGNS by the Rutherford County Assessor of Property on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Mitchell said the issue moves beyond a professional dispute over government oversight and into what he views as a personal matter involving his children.
“For more than two years, my office has endured constant scrutiny, public criticism, and extraordinary oversight from the Comptroller’s Office,” Mitchell said. “I accepted that because it came with the job. But when my family becomes part of the equation, that is something entirely different.”
According to Mitchell, one of his children was recently notified that a state employee had been monitoring his social media activity. Mitchell said the employee is a former member of the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office who now works in a leadership role with the Tennessee Division of Property Assessments.
Mitchell alleges the employee has a long history of conflict with him and his office. He said he has documented multiple incidents over the past several years that, in his view, raised concerns about professional conduct, objectivity, and the employee’s continued involvement in matters tied to Rutherford County.
Those concerns, Mitchell said, included what he described as unprofessional interactions, efforts to direct county employees outside the normal chain of authority, and conduct that he believes created the appearance of a conflict involving reviews of the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office.
“Public officials should never have to worry that disagreements over government policy or administration will spill over onto their families,” Mitchell said. “Whether this was intended to intimidate or not, the effect is the same. My children have absolutely nothing to do with property assessments or state government.”
Mitchell said he has formally requested that the employee have no further involvement with the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office. He has also asked the Tennessee Comptroller’s Management Services and Human Resources divisions to review the matter.
Despite that request, Mitchell claims the employee continued taking part in issues connected to his office, including judicial proceedings on June 25. Mitchell said the employee acknowledged accessing proprietary county Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal, or CAMA, software maintained by the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office.
“That raises additional questions about judgment, professional boundaries, and whether an obvious conflict of interest is being ignored,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also said he believes the reported conduct should be reviewed to determine whether it raises any concerns under Tennessee laws related to electronic harassment or cyberstalking. He emphasized that he is not making a legal conclusion, but believes the circumstances should be examined by an independent party.
“This is bigger than me,” Mitchell said. “Every Tennessean should expect state employees to exercise their authority professionally, objectively, and without allowing personal conflicts to influence their conduct. Government accountability begins with holding ourselves to the same standards we expect of everyone else.”
Mitchell is asking for an independent review of the allegations, along with safeguards to ensure future oversight of the Rutherford County Assessor’s Office is handled by individuals who can do so without the appearance of personal bias or conflict.
The situation also raises broader questions about whether state agencies have clear internal policies addressing employee conduct on social media when that activity involves local elected officials, county employees, or their family members. Mitchell said he believes the matter may ultimately require additional review at the state level if existing policies do not clearly address such conduct.
As of Mitchell’s statement, he is seeking further action from the appropriate state offices and is asking that the review be handled independently to preserve public confidence in the process.
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