Ken Potter doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the word retirement but he should — he’s retired twice. Now he has come out of retirement for a second time to answer a call to service.
The twice-retired law enforcement officer has once again picked up the badge, this time as Carter County’s newest constable.
Potter was appointed by the Carter County Commission to serve as a constable for the county’s 7th District after the previously elected Constable Seth Babb had to resign his post.
“He just had a new baby and opened a new business so he didn’t have enough time to devote to being a constable,” Carter County Constable Association President Mark Carrier said of Babb.
Following Babb’s resignation, members of the Association began discussing who could be appointed to fulfill Babb’s unexpired term, and Carrier the group all had one man in mind.
“There is no body in this county more qualified for office, especially a constable than Ken,” Potter said. “With his knowledge and experience he is going to be a great asset to the constables and Carter County.”
Potter has more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement in the Tri-Cities area. He has been the Chief of Police for the City of Watauga, the Chief Deputy of the Carter County Sheriff’s Department and the Chief Investigator with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a state-certified instructor in several areas of law enforcement and has worked with the Carter County Constable Association to provide training for the constables.
“Mark is a good close friend of mine, and when your friends call on you, you answer the call,” Potter said. “I’ve always had a spot in my heart for the constables, they are some of the most dedicated people.”
“People who do law enforcement, especially without any pay, are brave and dedicated and are some of a community’s best citizens,” he added.
When Potter agreed to apply for the appointment with the County Commission, the Carter County Constable’s Association got behind him and wrote a letter of endorsement supporting him. And, they were not the only ones to show their support.
Former Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris attended the County Commission meeting in October to speak on behalf of Potter. Harris was the person who drew Potter out of his first retirement when he asked Potter to take the position of investigator with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Department.
“He’s a bulldog,” Harris said of Potter. “If I had a crime he is the one I’d want investigating it.”
State Rep. Timothy Hill, whose district includes part of Carter County, also wrote a letter endorsing Potter for the position.
“He and I have been friends for some time,” Hill said of Potter. “I’ve seen his work in the community and how people work with him. I was honored to be able to endorse him.”
“The constable’s job is an important one to our community,” Hill added.
While he is proud of his previous work in law enforcement, Potter said he was humbled by the support he has received.
“I’m proud to be associated with these gentleman and I’m humbled to know they stood up for me,” Potter said.
Potter took over as the new constable in late October and he will fill the post until September 1, 2016, by his appointment.
Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris said the constable’s position will be on the county’s general election ballot in August of 2016. Because Babb’s resignation came late in the year, the deadline had already passed to put his unexpired term on the county’s March 2016 primary election ballot with the two unexpired County Commission terms.
Those interested in running for the constable’s position can pick up their candidate paperwork beginning on January 8, 2016, Harris said. The candidate paperwork and signature petitions must the be returned to the Carter County Election Commission office by Noon on April 7, 2016, for the candidate to qualify for the August election.