Opinion: Bill Ketron's troubles culminate in business office raided by Murfreesboro police

Jul 17, 2019 at 01:54 pm by Michelle Willard


It sure looks like Rutherford County's mayor has stepped in something that he just can't seem to rid himself of.

It doesn't help that what's stuck to him is his daughter. But then we can't pick our family.

During July, Ketron has seen a slew of bad news culminating Wednesday morning when Murfreesboro police executed three search warrants on his insurance office, Universal International Insurance on South Church Street, regarding investigations of insurance fraud.

That's right – his insurance office.

It doesn't matter to me if he left his daughter (of questionable judgement) in charge. It's his name on the door, his name that built the business, and his name as president and owner.

That means the buck stops with him.

In early July, it came to light that Ketron's daughter Kelsey had allegedly fraudulently accepted payment for a homeowner's insurance policy, without obtaining the policy. And at a time when she did not possess a valid license to do so.

It should also be noted that Kelsey Ketron is the representative of Tennessee Republican Party State Executive Committee for District 13.

On May 29, the Tennessee Commission of Commerce and Insurance sent Kelsey Ketron a cease and desist ordering her to stop selling insurance and said she "lied to the consumer about the existence of the homeowners insurance policy."

A license revocation hearing on the matter was rescheduled and there is a civil lawsuit is pending in Rutherford County Circuit Court about this complaint.

Then just two days ago Universal International Insurance settled a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Martin Construction and Restoration Co. The suit claimed the construction company lost business because Kelsey Ketron failed to renew its liability and pollution insurance.

Then another client came forward with a similar story.

And the Tennessee Attorney General Office warned the mayor he faces a possible lawsuit for failing to pay $60,000 in civil penalties for campaign finance violations. He was fined six times for $10,000 each for failing to file campaign finance records for the 2018 election season. Of the penalties, five are against Ketron's QUEST PAC, and one is against his Senate campaign.

Guess who his campaign treasurer was?

Kelsey Ketron.

Just when I thought that was the last straw and Commissioner Robert Stevens called for an examination of the mayor's misdeeds, MPD goes and raids his business office.

I am also reminded of the last time a county official's home and office were raided. The resulting investigation took years but it resulted in jail time for former Sheriff Robert Arnold and his deputy chief Joe Russell. It also cost the county a significant amount of pride.

Now we have our county mayor involved in less than scrupulous behavior. I wonder if he will end up writing President Donald Trump to ask for a pardon?

Photo: Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron shakes hands with Gov. Bill Lee (File)

 





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