Shannon Burchett announces candidacy for re-election as Carter County highway superintendent

ELIZABETHTON — Shannon Burchett has announced he will be a candidate for re-election to road superintendent in the upcoming Carter County Republican Primary. Burchett said he has over 32 year of experience and has "nurtured a deep connection with Carter County. His work at the Carter County Highway Department began in 1993, when he began as a truck driver and equipment operator at the highway department, working under Roy Taylor. He said that over the years, he worked his way up, eventually assuming the role of assistant road superintendent under Superintendent Jack Perkins until 2014. After Perkins retired, Burchett said he continued to expand his knowledge and experience while working as assistant road superintendent under Superintendent Roger Colbaugh, who was elected in 2014. Colbaugh retired in 2023. After Colbaugh's retirement, the Carter County Commission appointed Burchett as interim superintendent. He was officially elected as superintendent during the August, 2024 General Election. Burchett was born and raised in Carter County and he said his roots run deep in the county. Burchette and his wife, Debbie, are active members of Pleasant Beach Baptist Church. They are the parents of Katie (Scott) Odom and Maggie Burchett. In his leisure time, Burchett enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending quality time with his family and friends. Burchett plans to continue to enhance the community's safety by focusing on road improvements, encompassing not only the road surfaces but also the shoulders and ditches. Fiscal responsibility is also a top priority for him, as he promises to continue to use taxpayer funds wisely while working diligently to maintain a balanced budget. In September 2024, following his election win in August Tropical Storm Helene affected approximately 70 roadways over 140 sites having minor or major damage damages totaling approximately $30 million. He said this most definitely made his first year as road superintendent a challenging one. He said it was fortunate that no one in the county lost their life. "While rebuilding roads and bridges will take time and involve many rules and regulations that some people may not understand, these structures can be restored." Burchett continues to work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency teams to try to ensure that Carter County is reimbursed for al the money spent repairing damage caused by the storm. Despite the extra challenges this year, Burchett said he is proud of the highway department staff for their ongoing dedication to maintaining Carter County's 716 roadways promptly and professionally. He also continues to promise prompt and respectful responses to all concerns. Burchett is especially committed to prioritizing the safety of his dedicated team, ensuring that each member returns home safely to their families at the end of each day. Since his election, he has begun holding safety meetings regularly to ensure all necessary precautions are observed when employees work on roadways. Burchett said he continues to guarantee that he will provide 110% effort daily to being the best road superintendent he can be. "I would like to thank everyone for you support and especially for your prayers and patience over the last year" as he and his team continued to work alongside contractors to get things back to the way they were before Helene, while also taking care of the normal day to day tasks, such as mowing, paving, and snow removal.