It seemed recently that FRL Director Tracy Fitzmaurice had found an attorney for the library system as Jackson County progressed toward withdrawing from the three-county agreement. However, following a mystery phone call, the attorney withdrew.

The 80-year-old library system is made up of two libraries each in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. The counties split the burden and share resources to with the aim of providing more services and reducing expenses. It has come under scrutiny over the decades, but nothing like what is seen now.

Raising the temperature

The culturally driven debate around libraries that has played out nationally for the better part of a decade reached the FRL in 2021, when parents opposed a Pride Month display at the Macon County Public Library.

In January 2023, trustees approved a collection development policy that aimed to “acquire, organize, make accessible and actively promote materials that support the education, information and recreation needs of the community.” The collection policy approved by trustees stated “no collection materials, book club selections, story time selections, or library displays will be labeled, restricted, sequestered, or altered because of any controversy about the author, subject matter or intended or potential audience.”

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Fontana Regional Library Director Tracy Fitzmaurice has tendered her resignation letter.

At that time, frustrated Macon County Commission newcomer Danny Anotine likened books he found objectionable to child sex abuse material. He quoted state law during a commission meeting, saying, “A person commits the offense of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if, knowing the character and content of the material, he possesses material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity.”

A month later, a group of Macon County residents addressed the FRL board, voicing more concerns about LGBTQ youth literature. At that meeting, Antoine said he was working on pulling Macon County out of the library system. He also excoriated the Fontana Regional Library Board, saying it’s “completely disgraceful” to have “pornography” books available.

Macon commissioners decided to remain in the library system but still explored changes to the interlocal agreement that binds the three counties and the FRL board. At the direction of commissioners, then-county manager Derek Rowland investigated options and presented a letter that was favorable to the status quo.

“In this review, we found that this has provided citizens throughout the region with convenient access to informational and educational resources,” he told commissioners. “As far as the structure goes, having that coordination between counties allows for the more efficient purchase of certain services. It’s with anything, it gives you buying power, being part of this regional system, so we did feel that as far as benefits of our region, benefits to the taxpayers within each of the counties, that the regional system and the benefits that provided from an economic standpoint were certainly the way to go to provide this library service.” 

While Macon County was the initial focus of scrutiny surrounding the library system, it soon shifted to Jackson County when an outside organization hosted multiple Pride pageants at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva — drag shows. The first such show to draw concern, a 21-and-older event, was held in August 2023.

In May 2025, Jackson commissioners took up the idea of withdrawing from the library system, but unlike their neighbors to the southwest, Jackson went all the way, voting to withdraw just a month later.

In November 2024, the three counties nailed down a new interlocal agreement. At that time, county commissioners gained the ability and obligation to appoint FRL board members. The FRL board of trustees quickly turned over, leaving just Cynthia Womble and Tony Monnat, both of Swain County, as the only two members who’d served more than a year, leading them to take the helm as chair and vice chair, respectively. The new trustees are staunch supporters of the reform agenda, questioning policies and procedures across the board while also focusing on saving money. Both efforts have been slow-going.

A public resignation

A bi-monthly trustee meeting in Jackson County Jan. 13 brought the pressing issues front and center.

Opening the meeting’s comment session was Serenity Richards, a former librarian in Cashiers who’d recently quit.

Jackson County has voted to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library system. File photo

“I resign due to the persistent unethical conduct of members of the governing and advisory boards, compounded by the complete lack of meaningful communication or any coherent plan from Jackson County regarding the system’s future,” she said. “The conduct of sitting board members, whether through direct participation in vitriolic slander and name-calling, or through their failure to publicly condemn such behavior, has been unacceptable and deeply damaging.”

Richards said she thinks board members lack the qualifications necessary for their roles and have demonstrated an “ongoing refusal” to understand how libraries function, including applicable laws. Richards expressed fear that the trustees may be working to “dismantle” the system.

“The repeated and explicit efforts by governing and advisory board members, as well as sitting county commissioners, to circumvent First Amendment protections through soft censorship and restricted collection development are indefensible,” Richards said. “Equally troubling is the continued refusal of these bodies to listen to the clear will of the majority of the constituents they claim to represent, instead prioritizing personal, ideological, political and openly bigoted beliefs in direct opposition to community will, legal obligations and professional norms.” 

“I cannot be complicit to this behavior, and thus I must leave a job that I once loved,” she concluded.

Following Richards’ comment, Fitzmaurice noted that FRL won’t be able to fill that or the other two vacancies in Jackson County because of the impending withdrawal.

The pro SE board

Richards’ concerns that the board may not fully understand the laws pertaining to library operations is noteworthy, considering policy changes and crucial personnel decisions are imminent. When former FRL attorney Rady Large took a job at Western Carolina University last year and discontinued his pro bono representation, his recommendation was to retain an attorney from a multi-partner firm that could handle these potentially complicated processes, along with lawsuits that may result from certain actions the board has considered.

Fitzmaurice has conducted that search, something that has been challenged by some trustees. After running into dead ends, she’d succeeded and had a contract with Julia Hooten of the Asheville law firm Teague Campbell. A retainer had been paid. Things appeared to be moving forward. However, Hooten canceled the contract and refunded the retainer, telling Fitzmaurice that a board member called and mentioned that there could be a conflict of interest since Jackson County Attorney John Kubis also works for Teague Campbell. The two parties will work together as Jackson County continues toward its withdrawal from FRL.

According to the American Bar Association, attorneys from the same firm can’t represent two parties in some cases where those parties are “directly adverse,” essentially meaning that a client could have reasonable fear that their lawyer won’t represent their best interests. However, in cases where the conflict is “consentable” and the clients agree, that consent can be confirmed in writing and the process can move forward.

Hooten declined to comment for this story.

The FRL board, seen here in front of a packed house during its July 2025 meeting at the Nantahala Community Library, has seen a good deal of turnover since county commissioners began appointing trustees. File photo

During the meeting two weeks ago, none of the trustees owned up to making the call to Hooten or having any knowledge of who did, meaning either one of them was withholding the truth, someone else called impersonating a trustee or it was a member of a county library advisory board.

“It’s gonna be a long time before we get an attorney,” Monnat said during the meeting.

In the meantime, the nonprofit Jackson County Public Library Allies is taking donations to hire an attorney of their own to launch legal inquiries, potentially into the FRL board or its member counties. The group estimates that initial legal costs would be between $20,000 and $25,000.

Interlocal Agreement Amendments

Nonetheless, the board moved forward to address several items. Most pressing on the agenda was the vote on three interlocal agreement amendments.

The first amendment would stipulate that one commissioner from each county would sit on the FRL board. Board members voted against adopting this amendment, expressing concern over doing so without an attorney.

Next was the amendment requiring the FRL director serve in that role only; right now, Fitzmaurice also serves as the county librarian for Jackson County. This item was passed by a unanimous vote.

The third amendment would require FRL to return all unused funds “in excess of operational costs” to the counties in proportion to their contributions. This amendment was changed to say that any funds in excess of 25% of the fund balance would be reimbursed. This passed with five trustees in favor and Monnat abstaining from the vote.

At the same time that the FRL board was discussing the amendments, Macon commissioners met and voted on the same things, shooting down the change that would place a commissioner from each county on the board while approving the other two.

The work put in ahead of the votes on the amendments was largely for naught, however. Now that two have been changed, they will have to go back to the counties for another round of voting, something that requires a month’s notice.

Restricted access

On Dec. 22, a librarian received a request to review a book called “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson and consider moving it to the adult nonfiction section. According to the book’s goodreads description, it is an “instruction manual” for coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

“This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it’s like to grow up LGBT also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations,” it reads.

In accordance with procedure, the librarian reviewed the request and decided not to move the book. The board had to first vote whether to approve or reject the librarian’s decision, then it could vote on whether to move it from the young adult to the adult nonfiction section.

Several board members weighed in ahead of the votes. Most at issue was the book’s explanation of how to join Grindr, a dating app geared toward the LGBTQ community that requires verification from users that they are 18 or older prior to signing up. While such age verifications can be fooled, the app is intended for and marketed toward adults. Some trustees questioned why a book made available to children would discuss how to sign up for app they shouldn’t be able to use. Concerns about the positive language used to discuss gender transition procedures and medications were also raised.

Board Chair Bill McGaha, of Macon County, said he read the book, but first he just looked at the illustrations.

“My thoughts after doing so were, this book was going to try to normalize for the target audience what many would consider unacceptable sexual activities,” he said.

Monnat took issue with moving the book, which can be considered “soft censorship,” the restriction of certain materials by moving them to less accessible areas. It was brought up during the meeting that nine library systems in the state have already made this move. Monnat said he felt like some on the board were working to make the library out to be a “scary place with monsters.” 

Like some of the other board members, Monnat read the book ahead of the meeting, recommending that other trustees take into the account the totality of its message instead of cherry-picking things that could be taken out of context. A former educator, Monnat noted that kids now are bombarded with sexuality, largely due to the ubiquity of online pornography, so having a reliable source that can educate without stigmatization can cut through the outside noise.

“It provides teenagers with a safe place for answers,” he said.

Other trustees pushed back, saying that just because children are exposed to themes of sexuality doesn’t mean what they consider objectional materials should be available.

“We don’t have to be complicit,” McGaha said.

The board ultimately rejected the librarian’s recommendation before voting to move the book to the adult nonfiction section. Monnat abstained from the first vote and was the lone dissenting vote to move the book.

Returning donations

During the board meeting in November of last year, trustees voted to get rid of a budget line item for professional dues, which pay for staffers’ or libraries’ memberships in organizations that enhance their development in the field, provide resources and come with discounts on materials. The amount taken out of the over $4 million budget was $1,440.

At that time, trustees weren’t sure how much of that total came from counties — through tax dollars — and how much came from donations. During the January meeting, the board voted to return funds donated for that purpose by Jackson County Friends of the Library.

Ahead of the vote, Vice Chair Cheryl Tayor, of Swain County, questioned why the board should pay those dues when many other professionals pay for their own recertifications.

“We appreciate their generous support, but at this time, that line item is no longer open for donations or appropriations. Perhaps they will consider designating this gift to another need the library has,” Taylor said.

A new low

During the meeting, Deborah Smith, a trustee from Jackson County, spoke directly to the public to voice her frustration with local media reporting, saying coverage has created vitriol against the newer trustees who are pushing change. The criticism seemed to be directed toward The Smoky Mountain News and the Sylva Herald. Smith said she hoped that by standing up and calling out the media when they get it wrong, they “will get it right more often.”

This is one of the six photos taken over Jackson County commission candidate Casey Walawender’s photos obtained by the Smoky Mountain News. Walawender confirmed the authenticity of the photos. Donated photo

“Absolutely do not believe everything you read,” Smith said.

While Smith spoke in a public forum, that wasn’t the case for whoever sent a series of anonymous threatening emails to FRL librarians, trustees and members of the media. The Sylva Herald was the object of ire in a couple of emails. The author focused on Jackson County Commission candidate Casey Walawender’s text messages with Sylva Herald reporters Dave Russell and Beth Lawrence. Neither Lawrence nor Russell were at the meeting, so Walawender provided updates during the meeting.

The emails were sent from the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The author claimed that Russell and Lawrence were colluding with “extremists” to create a “mob response” to recent FRL board decisions.

The email contained excerpts from the texts. Messages from Walawender to the reporters criticized the adoption of the interlocal agreement amendments, calling some of the trustees “dumb.” 

The email threatens legal action and calls on Russell and Lawrence to resign.

“Both Dave Russell and Beth Lawrence have proven they are not journalists and are merely activists against our libraries and against democracy,” the email reads.

“This is your only warning,” it added. “We will not respond to you.”

The Sylva Herald and SMN copublished an editorial piece on that email that also contained some original reporting. In that piece, Walawender describes alleged harassment from longtime FRL critic Jim Gaston at the FRL board meeting, which she attended with her children, and the next day from Keith Blaine, Jackson County GOP Chair and Gaston’s close ally.

Walawender told SMN that she wants to laugh at the situation — especially the accusation that she’s an “extremist.” However, having such texts released and the extreme language used is concerning.

“The words that they’re using are pretty harmful. They’ve accused librarians of grooming children,” Walawender said. “There have been comments about gay people coming for your kids. They’re calling people pedophiles and saying that our libraries are distributing child pornography.”

The email regarding the Sylva Herald claimed that Walawender had “leaked” the text messages, implying that she voluntarily gave them to someone. That is not the case. SMN has obtained six photographs taken from over Walawender’s shoulder that depict the text messages. The individual who provided them to SMN said they received them from Gaston not long after the meeting. Walawender confirmed that the photos are accurate and that Gaston was sitting in the position to take pictures from that angle.

In the piece published by the Sylva Herald and SMN, Walawender recalls an interesting interaction with Jackson County GOP Chair Keith Blaine — a close ally of Gaston’s — that is made even more interesting in light of the photos emerging.

“As I was turning away with my back to the headquarters, Keith Blaine ran out and said, ‘Casey! Did you have fun talking to Dave and Beth at the meeting last night?’” 

Walawender said that implied that Blaine had knowledge of the photos before the emails were sent.

It hasn’t been confirmed that Gaston or Blaine sent the anonymous emails, but much of the language mirrors that of an email sent by Gaston from his wife’s Macon County Library Advisory Board account in February of last year.  

“Leaving the FRL needs to be discussed by commissioners in Macon and Jackson behind the scenes with a ‘surprise’ decision to leave when the time comes just as Yancey voted unanimously to leave their regional system while the regional library director was conveniently out of town,” that email reads. “If this possibility of exiting FRL is being discussed in the open, the lunatic left will mobilize and come out in full force with all their tired lies to create huge controversy. It must be kept behind the scenes until action.” 

The emails also read similar to a letter to the editor from Gaston published in last week’s edition of the Franklin Press, in which he makes sweeping claims to disparage the “leftist minority” and its “anti-American ideology,” comparing those he disagrees with to “Bolsheviks, Maoists and Nazis.”

“It’s time to have an honest discussion calling out politicians and media (even local press) to take responsibility for dividing Americans with false narratives and attempting to humiliate those who support the rule of law and consistency,” Gaston’s letter reads.

In a text message to SMN, Gaston denied sending the emails, and in a phone call, Blaine didn’t deny having knowledge of the emails but rather asked to see the emails so he could weigh in on their contents. Answering a follow-up question via text message regarding the photos of Walawender, Gaston didn’t deny taking pictures of the text messages but did note that the photos of Walawender “colluding with local press” and “mocking board members” were forwarded to a good many people. The message also featured attacks against several groups, again using language similar to the emails.

“These people have witnessed firsthand the misinformation spread by FRL staff, local media, and others (wearing yellow shirts in public) who want to control our libraries throughout 3 counties,” Gaston said in the message. “The photos and recent threats in a public email sent to commissioners by the Friends of Cashiers Library to withhold funding to libraries from community groups unless the commissioners bow to their demands are more proof of the leftist attacks on our libraries. These attacks have extended to all who desire balance and neutrality in our cherished libraries. Libraries should never be a place of political activism as suddenly became the norm 4-5 years ago with DEI propaganda.”

Shortly after the email was sent to Sylva Herald leadership, a similar one was sent to this reporter. However, this email included a line at the bottom mentioning that other “extremists” were involved in steering a false narrative, including this reporter.

“Other damning text threads reveal more collusion members, such as Fontana Library staff, but shall remain unnamed to you —  for now,” the email reads.

Both emails conclude with the sentence, “Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the same as Trump’s sign-off on written communications.

In September of last year, Womble and Monnat resigned from their posts as FRL chair and vice chair, respectively. They have remained on the board and have frequently voted against the majority. Shortly after her resignation, Womble voiced frustration with the board to SMN.

“I tried to be collaborative and congenial and professional in running meetings and setting up agendas and committees, and I was pretty much thwarted at every turn when I tried to rein board members in,” she said.

This email was sent to the Fontana Regional Library Board of Trustees in November of last year. From email

On Monday, Jan. 19, Womble received an email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It appears to also be addressed to others, but SMN hasn’t learned who all received that email. This email, which contains transphobic language, said it’s “past time” for Womble and Monnat to resign from the FRL board and “concentrate on Swain [County] where they belong.” It further describes a “political cancer” within the FRL, going on to say Womble has “obstructed intelligent dialogue” during a time that library staff has been “operating controversially with illegal actions.” The email goes on to level several accusations of hypocrisy against Womble, most of which use strawman arguments and false equivalencies.  

“Her mentality is not supportive of libraries,” the email reads. “It is bureaucratic paternalism and political in nature. Obviously, Ms. Womble and Director Fitzmaurice have put their authoritarian bureaucracy ahead of the library’s mission itself.”

The email does eventually circle back to Monnat, speculating that he resigned from his position as vice chair to focus on “his new crusade of politically gaslighting the public.”

“Monnat has joined with Ms. Womble in attacking other FRL board members at meetings for asking important questions for the sake of transparency,” the email reads. “What are Womble and Monnat afraid of? The truth?”   

A fourth email regarded Serenity Richards, the librarian who resigned and explained her reasoning during the meeting’s public comment period. That email was addressed to Richards, Fitzmaurice and several people at Western Carolina University, where the author was under the impression Richards had taken a job. Richards told SMN that she has not taken a job at WCU.

The author of the email erroneously calls Western Carolina University “WNC” throughout the email.

“When will the announcement be made and will Ms. Richards come clean that the real reason she resigned from the FRL was to take a position at WNC and not for reasons she gave on January 13, 2026 in an unprofessional public speech?” the email reads.

The recent string of harassing emails from that address aren’t the only ones FRL staff have received. On Nov. 1 of last year, an email from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. criticized Fitzmaurice while also questioning whether any attorney FRL might retain would be vetted for “bias,” adding that they thought Large harbored a bias that aligns with Fitzmaurice’s.

“Please share this information with your elected officials in your respected [sic] counties,” that email reads.  

SMN reached out to all eight FRL trustees (Marsha Moxley, of Macon County, resigned from the board ahead of the last meeting) multiple times seeking comment on the threatening emails. Taylor and Trustee Lori Richards and failed to respond to these requests for comment. The other six — McGaha, Womble, Monnat, Deborah Smith, Marva Jennings and Kathy Smith — all denied having knowledge of who sent the emails and condemned them, or at least their anonymous nature.

“If I have anything to say, I will put my name and face to it,” Jennings said. “I always do that during meetings.”

“My philosophy is that if you’ve got something to say you put your name on it,” McGaha said.

Clarification: A previous version of this story stated that the Jackson County Public Library hosted multiple Pride Pageants. The events were hosted at the library by an outside organization. In addition, it was stated that Jackson County Library Allies was seeking donations to hire an attorney; that was worded such that it appeared the donations would go toward hiring an attorney to represent the Fontana Regional Library System, when in fact that money will go toward representation for the nonprofit, including potentially launching legal inquiries into the FRL board or its member counties