CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The tension between the two women running for Montgomery County Assessor of Property is about more than the political campaign; it’s also rooted in a lawsuit over the period of time when they worked together.
Erinne Hester, the current Assessor of Property, is running for re-election in the Republican primary against Caitlin Castle-Swaffer. They were given the opportunity to speak to the public last week at a Clarksville Now candidate forum, where they were asked about their qualifications and the issues.
During the forum, Castle-Swaffer mentioned previous litigation. According to documents obtained by Clarksville Now, Castle-Swaffer filed a lawsuit against Hester and Montgomery County that was settled less than a year ago.
Claims of anxiety disorder being ignored, unequal pay
Swaffer worked with Hester from 2015 until May 2021, when she resigned. Hester hired Swaffer in 2015 to work as a property clerk before transferring her to land records valuation/mapper position in July 2017. According to her lawsuit, Swaffer also performed office manager duties. Swaffer resigned in May 2021 and filed the lawsuit for unlawful employment practices in 2022.
The lawsuit states Swaffer has a “generalized anxiety disorder, which renders her disabled within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act.”
“Throughout plaintiff’s employment, Ms. Hester subjected plaintiff to unwelcome harassment about plaintiff’s disability, including comments that plaintiff’s disability was to blame for problems within the office and that the workplace was ‘not the place’ for plaintiff’s disability,” Swaffer’s lawsuit states. “These comments occurred frequently throughout plaintiff’s employment.”
During their time working together, Swaffer alleges that Hester created the office manager position and that Swaffer was promised the role. Hester responded that although they did create the position, she denies offering it to Swaffer.
According to an email sent by Hester to Swaffer, “Before we move forward with hiring the office manager, you and I have to talk about the quality of your work. … I say this in love and from a place of understanding. Your anxiety is affecting your work. You have got to get control of your brain.”
Swaffer alleged in her suit that in September 2020, Montgomery County hired a man for a job similar to hers, paying him about $12,000 more than Swaffer. Swaffer claimed she had to train him, but he struggled because he didn’t have the necessary skills and experience. Before the male employee was hired, Swaffer said, the chief deputy in the Assessor of Property’s office told her that women “don’t excel” at the type of job she was performing for Montgomery County.
Montgomery County responded that the male employee was hired as a GIS analyst. This role is different from Swaffer’s as a land records valuation/mapper, and it has distinct job duties, responsibilities, and educational/experience requirements that correspond to the higher pay.
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Swaffer claimed disability discrimination, harassment, sex discrimination and pay discrimination. Around April 2023, the case was dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it can’t be brought back. Swaffer told Clarksville Now she had not signed any confidentiality agreements, and the result of the suit was a cash settlement.
Castle-Swaffer and Hester on lawsuit, settlement
“That’s really why I’m running,” Swaffer told Clarksville Now. “I had gone to HR a couple different times and nothing was done.”
“One of the key areas I will focus on during my tenure as the Assessor of Property is the critical issue of employee retention,” Swaffer’s campaign announcement states. “Under the current leadership, we have witnessed a concerning trend of talented individuals leaving their positions, leading to inefficiency and a loss of valuable expertise. … Together, we will build a strong and committed team that serves the best interests of our county.”
Hester has been the Assessor of Property since 2013. According to her campaign, she’s improved the office by using a variety of approaches, like education and technology, to better help serve customers. During her tenure as the Assessor, Hester and her team have received multiple awards over the last decade.
Clarksville Now reached out to Hester for comment on the lawsuit, but she said she coudn’t address specifics on legal personnel matters. “The ultimate conclusion is that no fault was assigned to the county or to me individually,” she said.