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Since first being elected to the Hamblen County Commission, one thing incumbent Mayor Chris Cutshaw has done is to put in the work, going to classes through organizations like County Technical Assistance Service to learn the intricacies it takes to run a county government.

“I’ve done nothing but soak myself in county government,” he explained. “I’m trying to be the best county mayor I can be.”

It’s that message that Cutshaw wants to drive home as voters prepare to go to the polls for the May 5 Republican Primary. He’s worked to gain the experience and knowledge that necessary to help move the community forward, collectively.

“It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about us,” he said. “I want to help make the decisions that move forward the progress of our county.”

Appointed to fill the unexpired term of former County Mayor Bill Brittain, Cutshaw had been commission chair since 2022. And it is with that hard-earned experience he hopes to overcome challenger Dr. Dan Parks in the upcoming primary.

“I hit the ground running with proven leadership and powerful knowledge of how the government works, how leadership works,” he said. “I am the candidate that knows county government. I have built the relationships to continue promoting our county, not just locally but on the state level with our senators and representatives. I have good contacts with them and work with them.

“I understand there is a role for us to work with city government and our Chamber of Commerce.”

Cutshaw said he feels a calling to be a compassionate leader with a work ethic that started when he joined the workforce at the age of 14 and lasted through a 40-year-career at Morristown Utilities that began with manual labor, shoveling rock and working his way up the MU chain. Along the way, he raised a daughter as a single father, supported community organizations and serving wherever he could.

He said he’s used to hard work and long hours. And he likes staying busy.

“I’m just a busy guy. That’s what I do,” he said. “I’m just trying to be the best I can be and be available to the community. My personality lends itself to being this kind of leader, working to improve myself, being available to help. I’m still that guy today.”

As that guy, the mayor wants to continue the work he’s started by finishing things that needed to be done and continuing the county’s forward progress.

There’s been a lot of focus on the jail and public safety, but Cutshaw stresses there’s a lot more to the governing than just public safety. There are ongoing projects for the health department and the education system that must be supported.

“If we don’t keep our education on the top level, it will be an issue,” he said. “That’s the future of our community. That’s recruitment of industry which leads to better jobs which lives to better lives for our people.

“Ultimately, it’s incumbent upon our county government to take care of our education, our health department, our sanitation and our Sheriff’s Office.”

The last few years haven’t come without controversy or criticism, but Cutshaw points to the county’s achievements as well.

The newly-populated Justice Center was 20 years in the making. It replaced the dank, dark and dangerous old jail that former Sheriff Esco Jarnigan called a “dungeon” in 2006.

The old jail was moldy, overcrowded and unhealthy. It was difficult to get jailers to work there.

Now the county has a state-of-the-art facility that should last the county generations.

He points to funding for school construction and renovations that include the new Lincoln Heights facility and work correcting long overdue safety issues at Meadowview.

“We inherited issues that needed to be taken care of,” he said. “All I did was present facts to the commission, offer my leadership in being honest and fair and help them make the best decisions possible.”

With multiple massive building projects, the mayor’s critics point to a tax increase and extensive bond debt. However, he said, they frequently fail to mention that prior to his administration, the county had worked to pay down the debt with the express goal of making room to fund those same massive projects. They point to a property tax increase and that debt bill but never quite tell the whole story, he said.

“Our debt is very much under control. Our financial rating is very strong with Moody’s. We are very strong, financially sound,” he said. “We don’t anticipate adding more debt. These were not recurring expenses but capital expenses.”

He also says that while he hates any property tax increase, while you’re in elected office, hard decisions have to be made. And, he says, that while his critics point to the tax increase, they frequently fail to mention that the property tax rate is among the best in the region.

“Our rate is $1.47 per $100 of assessed value,” he said. “Our property taxes are the lowest around except for Sevier and Campbell counties. Campbell’s is $1.27 but they don’t provide garbage pickup.”

According to the website ownwell.com, the annual property tax on a $500,000 home in Hamblen County is roughly between $2,050 and $2,450. “This rate is significantly lower than the national average,” the site says.

Cutshaw says the plan is to keep the tax rate low – that’s also a good industry recruiting tool, he says – while continuing the county’s forward progress.

“We have a laundry list of things that continue to move forward,” he said.

One of those things? Paving.

A frequent complaint of county residents has been road conditions. As a result, the commission has allocated $3.5 million annually for road repair.

“That’s what we’ve done. We listen. We understand. We know the issues,” he said.

Cutshaw said he’s heard from those outside the commission calling for budget cuts – usually without many specifics.

But he says 67% of the budget goes to employees and benefits. That’s educators, deputies, jailers and others. Significant budget cuts would likely heavily effect the employees of the sheriff’s office and the school system.

“I welcome anyone to come in and say we’re going to cut,” he said. “That means jobs.”

Ultimately, Cutshaw is focused on what can be done to improve the lives of the citizens of Hamblen County.

And that, he said, is part of being a compassionate leader, following a lifelong calling to serve.

“If I wasn’t called, I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I learned to walk with humility and I built a work ethic that has lasted my life.

“Between the hard work I have put in and being available, there’s a level of comfort that I know how to do this job.”