Cain rejects political attacks
Says claims intended to mislead voters
"This was a big surprise to me," Cain said about the recent reports.
Cain has retained Knoxville attorney Daniel Herrera to handle all public comments and inquiries regarding his mayoral campaign.
"Any allegations made against Mr. Cain are untrue," Herrera said, adding that Cain's "separation from Gibbs was amicable."
"It has come to Mr. Cain's attention that his political opponents are attempting to use a vague, irrelevant and immaterial employment dispute to shamefully mislead and misdirect the voters of Farragut," Herrera said in a press release. "These shameful political attacks, and 'fake news' rumors serve no purpose other than a weak attempt to poison an election.
"Mr. Cain maintains that he has committed no wrongdoing," Herrera added. "In fact, this issue never became anything other than what it truly is — an employment dispute."
"We had a difference of opinion," Cain said. "I was looking out for the welfare of a student. Administrators believed it was a violation of school board policy."
Cain said the issue involved a student who was missing class and that he was checking on the student before making a truancy report.
He said any actions he took were for the benefit of students and the school, just as his actions now are for the Town.
"So when we had our final meeting, we decided we'd part amicably. They didn't renew my contract but said I was eligible to be rehired," Cain said.
"You will not find a single criminal charge related to his time with Knox County Schools nor any civil litigation that was ever brought against him," Herrera said. "In reality, any insinuation of wrongdoing is simply wrong.
"While his opponents choose to focus on misleading voters, Mr. Cain will continue to focus on his campaign promises of real leadership, fiscal responsibility and responsible growth," Herrera said. "The only opinion that matters is that of the voters of Farragut, and Mr. Cain is confident they will see through this."
Cain said that after learning people were requesting his employment records, a friend helped him obtain a copy of his personnel file. Although he had submitted statements explaining his actions at the time of the reprimands, Cain said those statements were not included in the file.
According to news reports, Cain, a candidate for Farragut mayor in the Aug. 6 General Election, was released from his teaching contract in 2021 after receiving five reprimands concerning his conduct with teachers and students.
Cain recalled that the first reprimand occurred while he was on light duty working in the administration building.
"I went to a cubicle to ask a woman I was working for if there was more work for
me to do," he said. "I guess I surprised her, and then she said I had touched her elbow, I think is what it said in the file, and that I had gotten in her space while working in a cubicle."
Despite the reprimands, a June 22, 2021, personnel action document from Cain's employment file listed the reason for his separation as "non-renewal" of his contract.
In addition, a separation notice submitted by Knox County Schools to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development listed the reason for separation as "lack of work."
A final report regarding a teacher or administrator with a flagged license stated that the final local education agency employment action was "a written reprimand, non-renewed contract for 2021-22." The report also stated
that the Tennessee Department of Children's Services and law enforcement were not involved.
Cain began working at Farragut High School in 2007 as a school resource officer before transitioning to teach criminal justice and forensic science at Gibbs High School in 2012. When he left Knox County Schools in 2021, his annual salary was $51,530.
A Farragut resident for 25 years, Cain is seeking the mayor's office currently held by term-limited Mayor Ron Williams. He faces Louise Povlin, a former vice mayor and current Farragut Municipal Planning Commissioner, in the Aug. 6 election. Cain was elected to represent North Ward 1 in 2024.
Cain is the managing partner with an executive services company specializing in security and concierge transportation and also volunteers as a video coordinator/drone operator for Farragut High School football.
