Carter County Commissioner Robert Gobble resigned from his seat on the Commission on Friday due to health reasons.
Gobble, who represented the county’s 8th District tendered his resignation in a letter addressed to Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey and his fellow commissioners. The later was dated Feb. 2 but said his resignation would be effective as of Friday, Feb. 12.
“After around 10 years of serving the citizens of Carter County I am posting my resignation due to health reasons,” Gobble said in his letter. “I have felt honored to have served the people of the 8th district and past and present commissioners.”
“My hope and prayer is for the Carter County commissioners to continue to work for the people of Carter County,” he continued in the letter. “May God bless each and every one of you, Carter County and the United States of America.”
Gobble has suffered from some health issues over the last year that have led to his absence from some committee meetings as well as meetings of the full Commission.
For that reason, Gobble said he felt it was time to step down.
“I’m giving it up because my health is not holding up,” he said on Friday.
The County Commission is scheduled to hold its February meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. and Gobble said he plans to attend the early portion of the meeting.
“I’ll be up there Tuesday night for a little while because I have a few things I’d like to say to the people I served with,” he said. “I appreciate them so much.”
When asked what advice he would give to the remaining commissioners and whoever is selected to fill his vacant seat, Gobble said he would like to encourage them to work together.
“The only think I can say is I’d like to see them all come together and work together for the good of the county and do what the citizens want done,” Gobble said
Gobble’s fellow commissioners will have a few words for their retiring friend as well on Tuesday night. Humphrey said he and the Commission plan to honor Gobble during the meeting with a plaque thanking him for his years of service to the county and its citizens.
“It’s regrettable that he is in a position where he has to resign his position on the Commission,” Humphrey said of Gobble. “Mr. Gobble has worked extremely hard for the citizens of Carter County.”
“I’ve never known him to do anything but take a stand for the best interest of the citizens,” Humphrey added. “He has been a pleasure to work with.”
Gobble represented the county’s 8th District, which lies within the city limits of Elizabethton and includes the High School and Harold McCormick precincts.
The County Commission will now be tasked with appointing a replacement to fill Gobble’s seat on the body for the remainder of his elected term.