Election 2022: Cocke County

Mayor:

Rob Mathis

Race: County Mayor

Party: Republican

Address: Cocke County

Profession: Cocke County Trustee

Biography: Rob Mathis has served as the Cocke County Trustee for the last 12 years. He has over 25 years of leadership training and experience in diverse fields including business development, operations management, military leadership, education, finance, volunteerism, conflict mediation, and government. He has led teams of five to five hundred people in environments ranging from classrooms to boardrooms to factory floors and the sun-scorched sands of Iraq. He has a passion for leadership and helping his community to fully achieve its God-given potential.

H. Clay Blazer

Race: County Mayor

Party: Independent

Biography: Blazer was born and raised in Cocke County. He is a graduate of Walter State Community College, the University of Tennessee, and East Tennessee State University. He was a teacher in Cocke County for more than 20 years. He has been a county commissioner since 2006 and chairman since 2015. If elected mayor, he says he will bring new businesses to the area and support the businesses that are already there. He wants to increase tourism, keep property taxes low, and keep government spending low. Blazer also says he wants to keep Cocke County beautiful which includes not harming the environment, building infrastructure and giving everyone clean drinking water and internet access.

Casey Jones

Race: County Mayor

Party: Independent

Biography: WVLT News has reached out multiple times for information and has not heard back.

Sheriff:

C.J. Ball

Race: Sheriff

Party: Republican

Address: Cocke County

Profession: Current Cocke County Chief Deputy

Biography: CJ Ball, married to Tiffany Ball with two children Taelyr (14), and Karter (4), started his career with Cocke County S.O. full time in 2001. He started out as a corrections officer and is currently the chief deputy. He has worked in every position in this agency. Has an associate’s degree in law enforcement for Walters State Community College and is one class away from his bachelor’s degree from Bethel University. He has several hundred hours of training in law enforcement and has several awards for supervisor of the year. He is a faithful member of the Newport church of Christ, a member of the Newport Kiwanis club and a member of the Police Benevolence Association.

John Carrell

Race: Sheriff

Party: Independent

Biography: Carrell is from Newport, Tennessee. He studied at the University of Tennessee. He has been an officer with Cocke County Sheriff’s Department since 1991. Within the department, he has been a reserve officer, patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, detective and chief. He was also a task force officer with the United States Marshals Service for 15 years. If elected, he says he will train deputies in specific fields and fight drug trafficking. Carrell has a wife and one daughter.