The Re-election Campaign of Rob Mitchell, Assessor of Property for Rutherford County, Tennessee, released a statement Tuesday morning in response to a recent online article covering a local Defamation case.

Assessor of Property, Rob Mitchell has built his reputation and career on transparency, due diligence and doing what is right for the greater benefit of our community here in Rutherford County. His efforts have been such, that his successful leadership has been recognized on a state and national level, while returning millions of dollars to benefit our county and implementing oversight that ensures the County Trustee is collecting taxes based upon a fair and equitable valuation of more than 330,000 parcels county-wide. This has been accomplished with approximately 24% fewer staff, as the office has leveraged technology to increase efficiency under Mitchell's leadership.

This is a perfect model of fiscal conservative principles at work. While Mitchell's processes and business model have increased the efficiency of the Property Assessor's office, exponential growth in the coming years is eminent. Mitchell and his staff of about 30, are working to that end. The Assessor of Property position is not appointed but elected. It's a political process, since it's a Constitutional office. Mitchell is a Republican seeking re-election in 2020, which involves a Republican Primary election.

The Primary will determine the Republican Party's candidate for the General Election. Mitchell explains, "Our office holds the record of the largest percentage of return of a budget to the County General fund of any office in the County history. We've returned over the past seven years approximately 2.5 million dollars to the General Fund. The old adage is you must spend your budget, or you'll lose it. I don't ascribe to that position. I made a commitment that I would be a good steward of the county taxpayers' dollars, of their money. So, if we don't need it, I will not ask for a dime we don't need in a given year. Our record is not wasting anyone's money and standing up for the little guy.

Most people don't realize, there is only ONE elected official that is Constitutionally charged to ensure there is fairness and equity in taxation. It's not the Governor, it's not a State Senator, it's not a Mayor, it's not a County Commissioner. It's the Property Assessor. While values continue to rise, the algorithm designed by the state which is used to calculate the taxes, is designed to be revenue neutral. In other words, the tax rate covers cost and doesn't create surplus."

A recent online article regarding a local defamation case mentioned Mitchell, and his son, a local attorney. Mitchell's Re-Election Campaign responded via JoAnne Thompson Skidmore, Mitchell's Campaign Strategist and Director of Communications. "What we know, there has been an active case before the court which prevents any discussion on this matter." It's my understanding that Rob did receive an email, which he followed up on to determine its genesis. While I don't have any firsthand knowledge on this matter, we feel confident the optics of this situation will be clarified through the appropriate venue and the truth will reveal only goodwill and the purest of intentions.

Unfortunately, when matters take a political tone, anything can be misconstrued. If you look at the media on a National level, our Republican President and Republican members of Congress have rallied against and decried the actions of the U.S. House leadership as a "witchhunt". Skidmore continued, "Locally, we have witnessed that any Republican who supported President Trump's 2016 election has come under fire. In some circumstances, in disproportionate measures. Our political climate is not one to take lightly, as there are nearly a hundred people moving into the area everyday from all over the country and some the world. Especially with Federal PAC's like Justice Democrats, headquartered in Knoxville endorsing nearly 80 candidates going after Governor and House seats. They were the reason progressives like AOC was elected. We need to protect Rutherford County values, we don't need California values in our local government."

Skidmore stated, "It's our belief that the power of government is with its people. Those elected serve at the will of the People. We must protect the people's process of electing their representatives in all levels of government. We're very fortunate in our community and Rob Mitchell looks forward to continuing the work of the People and asks for your vote."

Skidmore is Chief Strategist at Campaign Creative Group, the political arm of Navigation Advertising. A lifelong Republican and 7th Generation Tennessean, past Executive Director of the Rutherford County Republican Party and 2016 Trump Campaign Chair for the 4th Congressional District and 2016 Tennessee Delegate for Trump. She served on Governor Bill Lee's Inauguration. She Chairs Women in Business for the TN Federation of Republican Women and is a member of the Perfect 36 Society.