COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — As the race for Cocke County mayor enters its final days, the two candidates seeking the county’s top elected office agree on one thing: the winner will face major challenges from the moment they take office.
Republican Joe Shults and independent Chad Burchette are campaigning ahead of the Aug. 6 general election, with early voting scheduled to end Saturday. At the top of both candidates’ agendas are rebuilding the county jail damaged by Hurricane Helene and creating more economic opportunities for residents.
Rebuilding the County Jail
The Cocke County jail was condemned following Hurricane Helene, forcing county officials to house inmates in neighboring Jefferson County. Both candidates say finding a long-term solution is critical.
Burchette said rebuilding the facility must be done in a fiscally responsible way that protects taxpayers while meeting the county’s needs.
“It’s all about economy when it comes to this jail,” Burchette said. “We aren’t a rich county. This is pushing it to be able to even address this issue. And we need to address it in the way that works, but the most reasonable, financially feasible way to get it accomplished.”
Shults emphasized the cost of waiting, saying construction expenses continue to climb.
“Each year that we don’t get this jail built, just in materials, not counting labor, is costing this county about $1,720,000 a year, just in the increase of materials,” Shults said. “And now that Jefferson County has put us on the clock, we’ve got to get this jail built.”
While both candidates support rebuilding the jail, they differ on what that facility should look like.
Burchette is proposing a pod-style correctional facility that he estimates could cost about $50 million and provide room for future expansion.
“I think a pod system is probably the most economical,” Burchette said. “And it’s one that offers us the opportunity to expand in the future. If we keep it around like a 250-bed count jail, we can get in around 50 million, give or take.”
Shults favors a hub-and-spoke design that he believes could house more inmates for a lower overall cost.
“My proposal is a hub-type jail center. And then build like spokes of a wagon wheel — 150 beds here, 150 here,” Shults said. “We don’t need a four-story jail. We need one level. With those numbers, we can build a 350-bed jail here for roughly around 42 to 45 million dollars.”
Focus on Economic Development
Both candidates also identified job creation as a major issue facing Cocke County.
Shults noted that the county has seen a decline in manufacturing over the years and said the nearly completed innovation park provides a significant opportunity to attract employers.
“Our innovation park here is getting finished. They’re putting in the infrastructure now — the water, the gas, the sewer,” Shults said. “We’ve got about seven sites there that will accommodate some pretty large scales. We have one section that’s 14 acres. So the next thing that we have to do is get busy starting recruiting.”
He also believes the county can capitalize on its outdoor recreation assets and capture more tourism dollars from neighboring Sevier County.
“We have great hiking trails, all of that. And we have to capitalize on that and try to pull some of that revenue from Sevier County over here,” Shults said.
Burchette agreed that economic development is essential but said workforce preparation must accompany any recruitment effort.
“It’s going to require the population of the county, the students of the county to kind of up their game because those are technology-driven jobs which require specialized education,” Burchette said. “We can work with their CTE programs, vocational school programs here to help focus on those.”
Burchette said partnerships with local schools and workforce training programs could help ensure county residents are prepared for future employment opportunities.
Final Days of the Campaign
The race follows a Republican primary in which Shults defeated incumbent Mayor Rob Mathis. Now, Shults faces Burchette in the general election as voters decide who will lead the county through what both candidates describe as a pivotal period.
Whoever wins on Aug. 6 will inherit responsibility for advancing a costly jail replacement project while pursuing economic development efforts aimed at bringing higher-paying jobs to Cocke County.
With construction costs continuing to rise and county leaders seeking long-term solutions, both candidates acknowledge the next administration will need to move quickly.
