Buck announces candidacy for Carter County Mayor

Published 3:16 pm Friday, June 24, 2022

Devon Buck has announced his candidacy for Carter County Mayor in the August General Election.

Buck, 57, is a 1983 graduate of Elizabethton High School. He is also a graduate of Northeast State Community College and attended ETSU. Buck has over 20 years of law enforcement/corrections experience and 10 years experience as a community college instructor.

In announcing his candidacy, Buck said he believes Carter County needs professionals, not politicians. “I am a professional who lives the life of a working person with a family and deals with the day-to-day struggles. I see what it takes to survive in today’s world. The country seems to be headed in a bad direction with soaring prices, inflation, an unstable economy, rising crime rates and shortages of various items.

“With all this at hand, Carter County needs a strong leader who will meet situations and problems head on. I will be able to bring the citizens together no matter what the the circumstances to overcome issues and continue moving forward. The county has been fortunate with an influx that includes millions of dollars in COVID-related funding over the past year. This makes things easier on everyone in office, however, the money will disappear and realization of the county’s wants versus the county’s needs will be at the forefront,” Buck said.

The candidate noted that Carter County is rich in history with its earliest residents banning together to overcome adversity, even starting the first autonomous government with the Watauga Association. “We cannot forget the Overmountain Men who actually changed the tide of the Revolutionary War at Kings Mountain. This is why we owe so much to our forefathers and to our veterans. Their voices and ideas should never be forgotten or silenced like it has been recently in public settings. I believe we should take exquisite care of our elderly citizens and our veterans. Our elderly citizens are the most untapped natural resource that our county has to offer. They have built the county that we know, love, and choose to reside in. Our veterans have fought and died to ensure we have the right to live here and maintain the Carter County way of life. Just as importantly, I believe we must vigilantly strive to protect and educate our children with the upmost importance because our children are the future of our county and they are one of the most valuable assets of the county. In these uncertain times we must absolutely ensure our children are protected, especially while at school,” Buck said.

He continued, “We must work closely with our businesses and industries to ensure that we are doing everything we possibly can to help them be successful. I will actively work to recruit new businesses and industries for the county. It may be challenging to bring new businesses into the area while there are “help wanted” signs in every window. As I have stated several times, every elected official in Carter County is placed in office to serve the citizens of the county. I believe that every citizen of Carter County has a voice and that voice should be heard regardless of who you are or what part of the county you are from.”

Buck concluded by saying, “It is now time for our government officials to start working for ALL of the people of Carter County. I encourage each and every one of you to reach out with any thoughts, opinions, or concerns. I look forward to us coming together as a county and bettering our county.”