Carroll retires after 42 years as constable, County Commission to appoint replacement
Published 6:15 am Tuesday, November 29, 2016
A long-time Carter County Constable has retired from service, leaving a vacancy that will need to be filled by the Carter County Commission.
Last week, members of the Commission and Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey honored Robert “Bob” Carroll for his more than four decades of service to the community.
When presenting a special plaque to Carroll, Humphrey noted the many ways Carroll has served his community and country. Carroll is a veteran, having served four years with the United States Air Force. On the home front, Carroll served “42 plus years” as a constable, Humphrey said. He also served the county as a volunteer firefighter, spending 20 years with the West Carter Volunteer Fire Department and four years with the Watauga Volunteer Fire Department, three of which he served as chief of the department.
“There are few people who have given as much to this community as this man has,” Humphrey said. “He is truly a public servant.”
Carroll spoke briefly to those in attendance at the meeting.
“I enjoy helping people,” he said. “I love Carter County and I’m proud of Carter County.
“I’ve tried to serve the people,” he added, saying he was honored to serve the community.
Voters in the county’s 8th District overwhelmingly cast their ballots for Carroll during the 2014 election, which began his most recent term in the office.
In a letter to Humphrey and the Commission on Oct. 26, Carroll announced his retirement from the position of constable for the 8th District. Because the ballot for the November 8 election had already been set and early voting was already underway, Carroll’s retirement came too late to place his unexpired term on the ballot for voters.
The earliest the post could appear on the local ballot is in May 2018 according to Carter County Administrator of Elections Tracy Harris.
“But that is only if the county calls for a Primary election,” she said.
If the county calls for a Primary, all of the county’s 16 constable positions would appear on the ballot as part of the normal election process since 2018 is an election year for the position.
If no primary is held the position would appear on the County’s General Election ballot in August 2018 as part of the normal election process.
The vacancy created by Carroll’s retirement will now be filled by appointment from the full Carter County Commission.
Humphrey said the position will be advertised and Commissioners will vote during the group’s January meeting to fill the vacancy.
“We’ve got 120 days, which we are well within,” Humphrey said, adding he had discussed the matter with County Attorney Josh Hardin. “He felt comfortable handling it in the January meeting since we will not be meeting in December.”
Prior to the January meeting, Humphrey said applications received for the position will be given to members of the Commission so they can review them and be prepared to interview the candidates during the meeting.
Those interested in the position are asked to fill out the “Boards and Committee” application form. Humphrey said the application form is available through his office at the courthouse or through Carter County Clerk’s Mary Gouge’s office. Applications are also available online through the county’s website at www.cartercountytn.gov by clicking on “Employment” in the menu along the top of the page then clicking the link for “Carter County Application – Boards & Committee.”
In addition to the application, interested parties are required to submit an affidavit signed by the candidate that he or she meets the requirements of the position. Candidates can also submit supplementary material outlying any experience or qualifications they feel are relevant to the duties of a constable.
Below is a list of the qualifications required for the position:
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Be a qualified voter in the district
• Be able to read and write and possess at least a high school diploma or general education development certificate (GED).
• Not have been convicted in any federal or state court of a felony.
• Not have been separated or discharged from the armed forces of the United States with other than an honorable discharge.
For more information, contact the Carter County Mayor’s Office at 423-542-1801 or the County Court Clerk’s Office at 423-542-1814.