Guide to government
County governments in Tennessee are established by the state constitution, which provides a basic framework for governance. Most county-wide elected offices are constitutional offices. However, other offices are established by acts of the state legislature, based on the provisions of the state constitution.
County-Wide Offices
The highest-ranking officer in county government is the County Mayor. In Scott County, Jerried Jeffers assumed office in 2022. His current term runs through 2026. The County Mayor is the CEO of the county, has sole hiring and firing power in departments that fall solely under the purview of the mayor’s office, and works with Scott County Commission to recommend resolutions and actions. As chairman of the County Commission, the County Mayor does not have veto power over County Commission, and can cast votes only in tie-breaking situations. Prior to 2000, the office was known as County Executive. Prior to 1980, the office was known as County Judge. It became an elected office in the late 1860s. Prior to that, the county’s chief executive officer was chosen by the Scott County Quarterly Court.
See Also: Mayors of Scott County
The Sheriff is another constitutional office. In Scott County, Brian Keeton assumed office in 2022. His current term runs through 2026. The Sheriff is the top law enforcement official in the county, and has sole hiring and firing power over all personnel that falls under the purview of his department, including law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and 911 dispatchers. The Sheriff must be state-certified by the P.O.S.T. Commission. (An interesting note: Scott County’s past two sheriffs have had twin siblings. Brian Keeton’s brother, Brad Keeton, works in the federal prison system. Ronnie Phillips‘ brother, Donnie Phillips, has served as Scott County Circuit Court Clerk since 2006.)
See Also: Sheriffs of Scott County
The last of the three constitutional offices is Road Superintendent. In Scott County, Kelvin King assumed office in 2018. His current term runs through 2026. The Road Superintendent is the supervisor of the roads and highways department, and has sole hiring and firing over personnel of his department. Roads that fall under the Road Superintendent’s purview include county-owned roads that fall outside the municipal limits of the Towns of Huntsville, Oneida and Winfield. This does not include state-owned highways such as U.S. Highway 27, or State Routes 63, 52, 456 or 297.
See Also: Scott County’s public roads
Other county-wide elected offices include:
• County Attorney. In Scott County, John Beaty is the County Attorney. He assumed office in 2002. His current term runs through 2026. The County Attorney provides legal counsel to the County Mayor, County Commission, Board of Education, and other office-holders.
• County Clerk. The Scott County Clerk is Felicia Bilbrey. She assumed office in 2018. Her current term runs through 2026. The County Clerk is responsible for issuing vehicle registrations, business licenses, some driver licenses, and marriage licenses. The clerk’s office is also the maintainer of minutes and records from meetings of the County Commission.
• Trustee. The Scott County Trustee is Rena Erwin. She assumed office in 2022. Her current term runs through 2026. The Trustee is responsible for collecting property tax payments.
• Register of Deeds. The Scott County Register of Deeds is Ashley Newport Riseden. She assumed office in 2018. Her current term runs through 2026. The Register of Deeds is responsible for recording property deeds and maintaining records.
• Assessor of Property. The Scott County Assessor of Property is Tiffany Jeffers. She assumed office in 2022, when she was appointed by County Commission to fulfill the unexpired term of the late Tony Sexton. Her current term runs through 2028. The Assessor of Property is responsible for appraising real property and assigning financial values.
• Circuit Court Clerk. The Scott County Circuit Court Clerk is Donnie Phillips. He assumed office in 2006. His current term runs through 2026. The Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining the docket and court records of the General Sessions Court, Circuit Court and Criminal Court.
• General Sessions Judge. The Scott County General Sessions Judge is Scarlett Ellis. She assumed office in 2022. Her current term runs through 2030. The General Sessions Judge presides over Sessions Court, as well as Family Court and Juvenile Court. Scarlett Ellis is the first woman to serve as general sessions judge in Scott County’s history.
• Clerk & Master. In addition to the above offices, the Clerk & Master is NOT an elected office, but is appointed by the Chancellor. In Scott County, the Clerk & Master is Michael Potter. The Clerk & Master is responsible for maintaining the docket and records of Chancery Court.
District Offices
Scott County is comprised of seven civil districts, each of which are redrawn to include equal population following 10-year census cycles. The districts were last redrawn following the 2020 census cycle, and will next be redrawn following the 2030 census cycle. Each district includes two members on County Commission and one member on the Board of Education. (The date each member was elected, if available, is in parentheses.) The current terms end in 2026 for all county commissioners and most school board members. The exceptions are school board members in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th districts, which end in 2028.
1st District
County Commission: David “Blue” Day (2006)
County Commission: David Jeffers (2018)
School Board: Tommy Silcox (2016)
2nd District
County Commission: Joyce Keeton (2022)
County Commission: Taylor Stephens (2022)
School Board: Diane Smith (2024)
3rd District
County Commission: Sheila Buttram (2014)
County Commission: Amy Jeffers (2022)
School Board: Chris Shelton (2024)
4th District
County Commission: Kenny Chadwell (2010)
County Commission: Shonda Gray (2018)
School Board: Kimberly Kidd
5th District
County Commission: Kelly Chitwood (2022)
County Commission: Robyn McBroom (2022)
School Board: Angela King (2022)
6th District
County Commission: Colby Burke (2022)
County Commission: Shon Terry (2022)
School Board: Llew Stanley
7th District
County Commission: Jared Burke (2022)
County Commission: Tom Payne (2022)
School Board: Dr. Tressa Murphy (2022)
More Information: www.scottcounty.com
Special School District
The Oneida Special School District is represented by a five-member board of education. The OSSD boundaries do not coincide with the Town of Oneida municipal boundaries, nor do they coincide with Scott County’s civil district boundaries. While the OSSD falls mostly within the 6th District, it includes small portions of the 3rd, 5th and 7th districts.
Board of Education:
Kevin Byrd
Dr. Danny W. Cross
Mark Matthews
Dorothy Watson
Dr. Nancy Williamson
Municipal Governments
In addition to the county government, Scott County has three incorporated municipalities. Each municipality is governed by a mayor and five-member board of aldermen. Each mayor is a member of the board of aldermen and has voting power.
Town of Huntsville:
Mayor: Dennis Jeffers
Alderman: Jaimi Lloyd
Alderman: Paul Lay
Alderman: Jim Morrow
Alderman: Jody Newport
More Information: www.townofhuntsville.com
Town of Oneida:
Mayor: Lori Phillips-Jones
Alderman: Mark Byrd
Alderman: Rick Harper
Alderman: Dakota Smith
Alderman: Jeff Tibbals
More Information: www.townofoneida.com
Town of Winfield:
Mayor: Jerry Dodson
Alderman: Doug Wilson
Alderman: Harold Chambers
Alderman: Donald R. Sexton
Alderman: Melvin Stephens
State Government
Tennessee’s governor is Republican Bill Lee, who was elected in 2018 and elected to a second term in 2022. His term ends in 2026.
Scott County is a part of the 12th Senatorial District, which is represented by State Senator Ken Yager, a Republican from Kingston, Tenn. He was first elected in 2008. His current term ends in 2030.
Scott County is a part of the 38th House District, which is represented by State Representative Kelly Keisling, a Republican from Byrdstown, Tenn. He was first elected in 2010. His current term ends in 2026.
Federal Government
The President of the United States is Republican Donald J. Trump, who was elected in 2024. His term ends in 2028.
Tennessee’s senators are Republican Marsha Blackburn and Republican Bill Hagerty.
Scott County falls into both Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District and 6th Congressional District. It is one of only a few of the state’s 95 counties that are split into multiple congressional districts. The 3rd Congressional District, which includes the southern half of Scott County, is represented by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Republican from Chattanooga, Tenn. The 6th Congressional District, which includes the northern half of Scott County, is represented by U.S. Rep. Bill Rose, Republican from Cookeville, Tenn. Their current terms end in 2026, and Rose will not be a candidate for re-election. He is instead a candidate for Governor of Tennessee.