MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Rutherford County Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, December 9, at 1:00 p.m. at the Courthouse/Chamber to address multiple ethics-related matters, including two formal complaints filed against Rutherford County Mayor Joe S. Carr.

According to the official meeting notice, the committee will first handle organizational business, including the election of a chairman and secretary, before opening the floor to public comments. The agenda then lists two separate ethics complaints involving Mayor Carr. One complaint was filed by Jason Bennett, and a second complaint was filed by Rob Mitchell. Specific details of the complaints were not included in the public agenda.

(#6. Ethics Complaint Filed by Local Resident) A formal ethics complaint was filed on November 10, 2025, by District 20 resident Jason Bennett against Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr, accusing him of misusing his office and county employees for personal business, attempting to influence a July 2024 ethics hearing involving Property Assessor Rob Mitchell, and coordinating political attacks against Mitchell. The complaint also alleges the mayor sold personal honey products from his courthouse office and used county staff to assist with sales. Bennett later filed an amendment claiming he was retaliated against after a county employee reportedly contacted his employer about his job status, which he believes was meant to intimidate him, and he is now requesting a full Ethics Committee investigation with referrals to the District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Comptroller for possible misuse of public office and public funds.

(#7. Ethics Complaint Filed by Property Assessor) On December 2, 2025, Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell has requested an ethics review of County Mayor Joe Carr, alleging the mayor allowed outside personnel to access the Assessor’s Office without his knowledge or approval, and that questions about the access were not clearly answered by the Mayor’s Office or the Comptroller’s Office. Mitchell also claims private information about a potential employee was leaked to the media to cause harm, raised concerns about high public records fees reducing transparency, and questioned the handling of a proposed audit and the hiring of a county lobbyist due to possible irregularities and conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, earlier this year the Tennessee Comptroller reported serious errors in the Assessor’s Office, prompting state takeover of operations, and Mayor Carr publicly blamed Mitchell’s leadership while saying his own office acted according to state law and is working with the Comptroller to correct the problems.

• Hear our recent interview with Mayor Joe Carr HERE, via a WGNS Podcast. 

The notice also outlines procedures for public participation. Individuals wishing to provide public comment must have their names placed on a sign-in form by 4:30 p.m. the day prior to the meeting at the County Mayor’s Office, located at One Public Square, Room 101, in Murfreesboro. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those needing accommodations are asked to contact the County Mayor’s Office at least two working days in advance of the meeting.