Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett dead at 65

Carter County Mayor Rusty Barnett has died after suffering a heart attack last week, according to county officials.

Barnett, 65, was elected in 2018 and it was another chore that he had taken on as a true public servant for the community.

Before taking office, Barnett had spent 37 years as a member of the Elizabethton Fire Department when he retired after winning the mayoral election. He also served on the Carter County School Board and the locality’s economic development commission.

County lawmakers will pick a replacement for Barnett to serve on an interim basis. State law says the head of the county commission would be the next in line for the position but Chair Ray Lyons resigned earlier this summer due to health problems.

(PHOTO: Barnett for Mayor Campaign / Facebook)