The Town of Farragut has faced ongoing controversies involving its Board of Mayor and Aldermen, particularly around compliance with Tennessee’s Sunshine Law (Open Meetings Act) and related censures.

I have remained largely silent on the conduct of Town Attorney Tom Hale until now, as prior issues had not risen to a blatantly egregious level. However, the events of tonight’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on February 12, 2026, crossed that threshold in my view.

This comes after a regrettable delay on my part in fully addressing earlier matters. Last summer, Alderman David White passed away on August 21, 2025, at age 80 after battling lung cancer. He had served as the Ward 2 (South Ward) alderman. Tragically, I did not speak out more forcefully in defense of Aldermen White and Alex Cain regarding the censure they received shortly before White’s death. That censure stemmed from allegations that they violated the Sunshine Law by privately discussing and agreeing on town business outside of a public meeting—specifically related to discussions around the Evans Road issue and other matters, as reported in local outlets like the Farragut Press in July and August 2025. The board ultimately voted to censure Alderman Cain (with White’s name later noted as removed posthumously in some accounts), highlighting tensions over open meetings compliance.

Tonight, during the meeting (which included a workshop at 5:00 PM followed by the regular session at 6:00 PM), Attorney Hale addressed a Sunshine Law question involving Aldermen Burnett and LeCroix. Alderman Burnett was absent initially, arriving around 7:15 PM. Hale provided what he described as an exhaustive explanation—likely including detailed time and billing considerations—concluding that Burnett and LeCroix had not violated the law.

Alderman Cain then spoke in his own defense, as well as in memory of the late Alderman White, revisiting the circumstances of their prior censure.

To form your own opinion on the exchange, including what some perceive as inconsistent or duplicitous reasoning from Attorney Hale (often described colloquially as “speaking with a forked tongue”), I encourage viewers to watch the full recording of the meeting, here.

Attorney Hale is not the founding or long-tenured town attorney like Attorney David Earl Rodgers once was, and in my opinion, his approach tonight fell short of the standard expected. It’s time for a change—get the Hale out.

This situation underscores broader concerns about transparency, consistency in legal advice, and fair treatment of aldermen in Farragut’s governance. Residents deserve clear, impartial guidance from their town attorney, especially on critical issues like open meetings laws that protect public trust.