Over the past 10 years, residents have realized that, in fact, “J” is in their corner.
With election time around the bend for county offices, Jarrod Ellis, owner of J’s Corner in Elizabethton, formally announced his candidacy this week to become the next Carter County Register of Deeds.
Having an invested interest in the county played an overwhelming role into the decision, according to Ellis.
“I’ve always taken a lot of pride in my community,” Ellis said Wednesday. “A lot of my friends and family have moved from here but I’ve always wanted to stay, and I’m very happy that I did. Carter County has been so good to me, so I want to get involved anyway I can.”
Staying active in the community has been a staple of Ellis and staff at J’s Corner. With support rolling their way, Ellis added the restaurant has always wanted to do its part to help make Elizabethton and Carter County a better place for citizens and visitors alike.
“We’ve been in business for 10 years and we want to make sure that we help everyone that walks through our doors,” Ellis said. “We never turn anyone away. Whether it has been a donation, a gift card, or coming out to an event and fix the food. The community has been so great to us. That’s the biggest reason I want to donate my time and effort back to people.”
Wanting to give back led to the decision of pursuing a county office, Ellis said, and he commended the efforts of current Register of Deeds Jody Bristol.
“The Register of Deeds Office has been operated very well over the years by Jody Bristol,” Ellis said. “I want to be able to bring my business management and people skills to the office and update the technology at no extra cost to the tax payers.  I want to make sure I’m there for the citizens when they need help. I want to give our citizens the best resources available to them.  Even if it is after hours, I want to help. My cell phone is always on and I will continue to make myself available to the community.
Ellis is a graduate of Elizabethton High School and a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies – K-6.
While politics is a new realm for the business owner, he added that if he were to get elected, he would surround himself with the staff to make a seamless transition for citizens.
“I’m going to work hard at what I do and I hope the community sees that from what our restaurant has been able to accomplish,” Ellis said. “I’m going to be good to people. I might not have the elected official experience, but I have life experience, business experience and I know how to treat people. It would be a learning experience if I were to get elected, but that’s why you surround yourself with kind, knowledgeable, hard working employees.
Ellis added that if he were to be elected to office that his ties to the restaurant would subside.
“I would be an elected official, and I would need to represent the county,” Ellis said. “If I were to get elected, my employees would independently lease the company from me. I want people to understand that I have three wonderful employees that have been with me since the beginning. J’s Corner is here to stay for many, many years to come.  They are more than capable to run the business and I would put all my trust into them. All 100 percent of me would be dedicated to the Register of Deeds Office.”
Candidates looking to run for the upcoming election cycle can begin picking up packets November 17. Candidates will then be on the ballot for the May primary.