Travis Hill is announcing his candidacy for the office of Carter County Commissioner for the county’s Sixth District, which includes the Elk Mills, Hampton, Little Milligan, and Valley Forge Precincts.

“I had thought about running 4 years ago but the timing was just not right,” Hill said. “I felt like my tax dollars have been wastefully spent by past commissions, so you can do one of two things: you can sit on the sidelines and complain or you can get in the game and try to make a difference. I have decided to choose option two.”

“I feel like the county is currently in a good position to move forward. As my children continue to grow, I saw the need to get involved,” he continued. “I want to help make Carter County a place where our children can live and work as they move into adulthood. I don’t want our children to have to leave Carter County to find good paying jobs! My roots run deep in Carter County!”

A life-long resident of Carter County, Hill has worked for the City of Elizabethton in two different capacities: as a firefighter with the Elizabethton Fire Department for more than 12 years and in his current role as an accountant with the City of Elizabethton. He holds two bachelors degrees from East Tennessee State University —one in Business Administration in Accountancy and one in Business Administration in Business Management.

“I have been certified with the State of Tennessee as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer,” Hill said. “A CMFO must have knowledge in the areas of  the government environment, municipal budgeting, internal control and audit, governmental accounting, financial reporting, cash management, debt management, payroll, benefits &pensions, and purchasing & risk management.”

“I feel like the knowledge that I have, and that I use at my job would be a benefit to the commission and the people of Carter County,” he added.

His experience as a firefighter will also help him serve the citizens he represents, according to Hill.

“I know the needs of our first responders across the entire county. The jobs of our first responders are very stressful and expensive, from fighting fires, to patrolling the county and making arrests, to running medical calls; it takes money and a lot of it,” Hill said. “The problem is that it’s not getting any cheaper. I feel like I have the knowledge to assist the departments with their needs.”

Over the years, Hill said he has seen many jobs leaving the area and has had friends and family who have had to find new jobs when the manufacturing facilities closed up shop.

The loss of jobs coupled with the increasing costs of providing needed services to the citizens are two of the major issues facing the county, according to Hill.

“I feel like the county along with the City of Elizabethton should continue to work together to bring jobs to Carter County,” Hill said. “We should offer tax abatements to anyone willing to bring jobs to the area.”

“My goal, if elected, would be to bring in good paying jobs. It would be really nice to get a couple of  new manufacturing facilities in Carter County,” Hill said. “I would also like to work with the local volunteer groups to help drive the tourism aspect of our beautiful county.”