MURFREESBORO, TN (WSMV) -
An embattled county official could face his biggest tests yet in the next two days.
Rutherford County Property Assessor Bill Boner has faced accusations of sexual harassment and property assessments that were wildly inconsistent. And a political opponent accused Boner of tearing down his posted campaign sign.
Boner is set to turn himself in to authorities Friday on those criminal vandalism charges, but he has said, as property manager of the movie theater where the sign was hung, he had legal authority to take down opponent Rob Mitchell's sign.
It's a lot for taxpayers to think about before voting Thursday.
"I thought he was doing a good job, and now in today's paper he said he would turn himself in Friday. We'll just have to wait and see what the outcome of it is," said one voter.
But the only imminent outcome is the election itself.
Mitchell, who was recently awarded an award by Gov. Bill Haslam for community service, said Boner has cost the county money by losing lawsuits to angry property owners and forcing the county to hire a lawyer to defend him.
But beyond that, there are the allegations over Boner's behavior. Mitchell said the sexual harassment allegations are enough to discredit Boner.
"It's a shame for the taxpayers. It's a shame the women had to go through this. There are good people in that office. It's disgusting to me, personally, as a father and a husband any woman should be treated that way inside the office," Mitchell said.
Boner has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that all four women accusers are lying and that all the stories of sexual harassment are fiction.
Boner did not return calls for comment from Channel 4 News. In fact, he has refused interviews since our story aired.
Rutherford County voters head to the polls Thursday.
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