MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Murfreesboro City Council has appointed longtime Smyrna municipal attorney Jeffrey L. Peach as the city’s next City Attorney, approving an employment agreement during its March 5, 2026 meeting. Peach will replace Adam Tucker, who resigned in December after serving in the role since 2018.

Peach has served as Town Attorney for Smyrna since 2013 after first joining the town as a staff attorney in 2008, giving him more than 17 years of continuous experience as a Tennessee municipal attorney. According to city officials, Peach is expected to begin his new duties on or before May 4, 2026.

The council voted to appoint Peach following a public interview conducted during a City Council workshop on Feb. 12. After the interview, council members directed city leadership to begin negotiating an employment contract with him.

Mayor Shane McFarland said Peach’s background in municipal law made him a strong candidate for the role.

“Jeff Peach has faithfully served as Town Attorney and Staff Attorney for the Town of Smyrna for more than 17 years, working on a number of important and complex legal matters, including civil litigation, employment, land use planning and zoning concerns, and other municipal legal issues,” McFarland said.

Peach’s legal experience includes cases before state and federal courts, the Tennessee Court of Appeals, and petitions before the U.S. Supreme Court. Before entering municipal law, Peach spent more than a decade in law enforcement, working as a police officer and detective in Smyrna from 1996 to 2009.

A native of Columbia, Tennessee, Peach earned his law degree from the Nashville School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University. He is currently serving his second four-year term as a commissioner on the Tennessee Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations, an appointment made by Gov. Bill Lee. Peach is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Tennessee Bar Association and the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

He lives in Rutherford County with his wife, Katie, and the couple shares four adult children and five grandchildren.

Peach will take over the role following a brief transition period. After Tucker announced his departure in December to relocate to Ohio, Kelley Blevins Baker, the city’s longtime Deputy City Attorney, was appointed interim city attorney in February while the city conducted a regional search.

City Manager Darren Gore thanked Baker for her service during the transition and said the city appreciates Smyrna’s cooperation as Peach prepares to move into the new position.

Employment agreement details - Under the employment agreement approved by the council, Peach will receive an annual salary of $235,000, paid on the same schedule as other city employees. The agreement allows the City Council to consider annual raises or performance incentives, though increases cannot reduce his pay below the initial salary without a mutually agreed amendment.

The contract also outlines benefits common for top municipal administrators. The city will pay 100% of the premiums for health, vision and dental insurance for Peach and his dependents, along with disability and life insurance coverage.

Another notable provision gives the city attorney six weeks of paid time off annually, along with standard city holidays and accrued supplemental vacation leave. The agreement also allows Peach to participate in the city’s retirement system and receive reimbursement for professional dues, training, and travel connected to legal or municipal conferences.

If the city were to terminate the agreement without cause, the contract provides nine months of severance pay, along with compensation for accrued leave and continued insurance coverage during the severance period.

The document also notes that the city attorney will oversee the city’s legal department, attend city council meetings, and advise city leadership on matters ranging from contracts and litigation to municipal policy and ordinance enforcement. See Employment Contract HERE.

Municipal contracts and legal compliance - As Murfreesboro’s chief legal advisor, Peach will also play a key role in reviewing city contracts, which often include detailed compliance requirements tied to state law.

For example, a recent city agreement with Thompson Machinery Commerce Corporation for a hydraulic hammer attachment for an excavator illustrates the type of provisions commonly found in municipal contracts. The equipment purchase, valued at $177,816, will help Water Resources crews break rock in underground utility trenches without the need for explosives.

City contracts in Tennessee also include certifications tied to state law. Vendors must verify that they are not listed under the Tennessee Iran Divestment Act, which prohibits state and local governments from contracting with companies that invest in certain sectors of Iran’s economy. See contract HERE.

Similarly, contractors bidding on major public projects must certify they do not participate in a boycott of Israel, a requirement under Tennessee law for contracts valued at $250,000 or more with companies employing at least 10 people.

These provisions are intended to ensure public spending complies with state law and broader federal sanctions policies while protecting taxpayer funds.

With Peach preparing to assume the role in May, Murfreesboro officials say his experience in municipal law and government operations should help guide the city through complex legal and regulatory matters as the rapidly growing community continues to expand.