Local rabble-rouser Joe Liggett has set his anti-corruption sights on Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron.
According to news reports, Liggett contacted the Tennessee Ethics Commission's Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance office to ask about Ketron's Statement of Disclosure of Interest.
"I'm concerned that Bill Ketron left off his disclosures his 51% ownership of the insurance business and his ownership of the office condo the business operates from," Liggett wrote in the citizen's complaint, according to the Murfreesboro Post. "I find it hard to believe that he does not profit from either one. I would ask that you and/or your office look into this. Thank you in advance for your help with this."
This is in addition to Ketron's fines from the Tennessee Election Finance Registry for not paying his previous fines for failing to properly file his paperwork.
Interestingly, Liggett became into his own as a government watchdog after ex-sheriff and current felon Robert Arnold was being investigated for including his family business on his Tennessee Ethics Commission's Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance filing. Arnold actually reported the income he made from JailCigs and JailSnacks. His side hussle with Joe Russell that ended up landing them both in minimum security federal prison.
If he left it off, he would probably still be sheriff. Had he left it off, there is a good chance Arnold would still be Rutherford County's high sheriff. Maybe that's what Ketron was doing when he "forgot" to report his family owned business? That makes me wonder, has he reported the ownership in the past?
Anyway, during the whole Arnold debacle, Liggett led a citizen's group that filed an outser suit against the sheriff to try to force him from office. Arnold held on for dear life, only leaving when he boarded the metaphorical bus for prison. I have a feeling Ketron will follow a similar path. It might not lead to prison, but he sure as hell isn't leaving office any time soon.
Throughout the ouster suit, Liggett's group spent more than $10,000 to get Arnold out of office.
This time Liggett's saving his cash for now and letting the state poke around Ketron's finances. The bureau confirmed to The Post that it had sent Ketron a request asking for more information and giving him a chance to amend his filing.
To me, it looks like Ketron conveniently "forgot" to include his family's business, even after he testified in criminal court in November that he owns 51 percent of the business that has been shrouded in controversy for the past half year or so. Kelsey Ketron (Randolph) owned the other 49 percent as of November.
Bill Young, the bureau's executive director, told The Post he hopes to have all the Ketron stuff wrapped up by May.
I can't wait to see what happens.