RED BOILING SPRINGS, Tenn. -- A former mayor of a Macon County town is charged with aggravated assault, and the person on the receiving end of that alleged assault was someone who's been looking into the financial records of the town.

Video: Former Mayor Accused Of Assault

Jack Pelham has a gash on his head that he said was inflicted by John Cook, the former mayor of Red Boiling Springs.

"I turned around, and he's advancing now within 10 or 12 feet from me with a flashlight, a long metal 6-D cell flashlight, that is aluminum colored and struck me in the head with it," said Pelham.

Cook was mayor in 1997 and 1998 and currently publishes two community newspapers. He's out on bond after being arrested for aggravated assault after a fight that Pelham said began when Cook confronted him outside a grocery store.

"His words to me were, 'You'd better keep me out of your damn paper,'" said Pelham.

Pelham publishes an on-line Web site critical of the town's government that asks a lot of questions about the finances of the city of Red Boiling Springs. He said the numbers just don't add up.

For example, Pelham points to an item in the town's balance sheets that shows the city expects $800,000 in revenue this year from bounced check fees.

"To put that in perspective, the general fund of the city this year is only about $660,000," said Pelham.

Pelham has not implied that former Cook was involved in any irregularities. In February, the sitting mayor of Red Boiling Springs Kenneth Hollis was indicted for official misconduct and theft.

Pelham said the town's bookkeeping raise many concerns, and he's asked state auditors to take a look.

"Either the records are not being kept properly, or it's worse and something's actually being obscured or covered up in some way for who knows what motive," said Pelham.

Cook declined to comment for this story.

Pelham said he has also found discrepancies in the solid waste, water and general funds.