GALLATIN, Tenn. — A lawsuit filed against the City of Gallatin and several members of the city council alleges that a former groundskeeper, Jacob L. Alexander, was forced to resign after facing retaliation for comments he made on social media.
According to the lawsuit, Alexander, who worked as a groundskeeper for the city, engaged in an online discussion about school vouchers in January 2025. A friend of Alexander’s had commented on a Facebook post, stating, “Most people were against school vouchers.” Alexander reportedly responded to the post, stating, “It’s kind of like the apartments in Gallatin, everyone is against it but the city council.”
The lawsuit claims that these comments led to backlash from city officials. Council member Craig Hayes allegedly contacted the director of the Parks and Recreation Department to discuss how Alexander could be “silenced,” including options for punishment or even termination. The suit also claims that council members Stephen Fann and Shawn Fennell expressed similar concerns and called for Alexander to be punished or fired for his remarks. One of the council members allegedly sent a message to the Parks and Recreation director, saying, “If you know what is best for you, you will either fire Jacob or cut his hours to 20 a week.”
The lawsuit further asserts that Alexander did not want to resign but felt forced to do so due to the retaliation and harassment from city council members. Hayes and Fann declined to comment on the matter, while Fennell was unavailable for comment due to travel.
This legal action brings attention to the tension surrounding Gallatin’s rapid growth. Alexander’s comments about local government policies and development reflect broader concerns shared by many residents of the city. Brian Robertson, a Gallatin resident, expressed frustration with the city’s expanding infrastructure, noting that traffic congestion has become a significant issue. “With our current infrastructure, we can’t accommodate the amount of traffic or the amount of people that are here,” Robertson said. “You used to get across town fairly easily in less than 10 minutes; now, it takes a half-hour.”
The lawsuit raises questions about the balance between free speech and the actions of public officials. If true, the allegations suggest an attempt by local government leaders to suppress criticism and discourage dissent within the community. Legal experts suggest that this case could have wider implications for public employees’ rights to express their opinions without fear of retaliation.
As the case progresses, it will likely draw further attention to the dynamics between local government leadership and residents’ ability to speak freely about issues affecting their community.
