The county mayor is the Chief Executive Officer who performs many duties for our citizens. The county mayor serves as a non-voting, ex-officio member of each committee of the county legislative body and of each board, commission, or authority of the county government. The county mayor appoints members of county boards, commissions, and department heads subject to confirmation by the legislative body. The county mayor has the care and custody of all county property and may enter into letters of agreement with the county fee officials regarding the number of deputies and assistants and their salaries. The mayor may also examine the accounts of the county officers to verify each item of expenditure or revenue.

Mark Potts is serving his second term as Mayor of Jefferson County which began on September 1, 2018. Mayor Potts was born and raised in Jefferson County, to Glenn and Betty Potts. He grew up in the Swannsylvania community, where his family has lived for almost 200 years.

Mayor Potts brings experience, integrity, and dedication to the office while honoring our small-town values. The Mayor is working diligently to bring job growth, quality education, enhanced quality of life and a unified Jefferson County. Mark has been instrumental in the growth of Jefferson County and works cooperatively with the municipalities creating economic development.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Jefferson County, Tennessee
  • Mayor 2018-Present
  • Chair, County Commission 2018-2023
• Jefferson City, Tennessee
  Mayor 2010-2018
  Vice-Mayor 2006-2010
• Jefferson County Emergency Medical Services
  Paramedic/Supervisor 1997-2018

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• Jefferson County High School, Dandridge, Tennessee
  Graduate
• University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Tennessee – Marketing
• Carson Newman University, Jefferson City, Tennessee – Bachelor of Arts
• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville – Master of Divinity & Doctor of Ministry
• Walters State Community College, Morristown, Tennessee – Paramedic
• University of Tennessee Certified Public Administrator (2021)
• National Association of Counties- High Performance Leadership Master Certificate (2021)
• County Executives of America – Certificate in Opioid Abatement Management (2023)
• Leadership Jefferson County Graduate
• East Tennessee Regional Leadership Graduate

PUBLIC SERVICE

• Lakeway Area Metropolitan Planning Transportation Organization (LAMPTO) – Chair 2001-Present
• East Tennessee Regional Agribusiness Marketing Authority (ETRAMA) – Vice-Chairman 2018-Present
• Jefferson Alliance – President July 2022-Present
• East Tennessee Development District – Treasurer October 2018-June 2019, Secretary July 2019-June 2020, Vice-Chair July 2020-June 2021, Chair July 2021-June 2022, Ex-Officio July 2022-Present
• East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (EHRA) – Treasurer 2018-2019, Secretary 2019-2020, Vice Chair 2020-2021, Chair 2021-2022, Ex-Officio 2022-Present
• County Executives of America – Vice President – Northeast
• East Tennessee Regional Leadership Board Member 2011-2016
• Association of Tennessee Valley Governments East Tennessee Board Member