Salute to county leaders: Larry Waters

Key Takeaways

After a few years as a teacher and principal, Larry Water was elected executive, later renamed mayor, of Sevier County, Tenn. in 1978 when he was 25. He will conclude 48 years as county mayor when he leaves office at the end of the year, making him the longest serving county mayor in Tennessee history. During that time, the county’s population tripled, and Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have thrived as tourism destinations, thanks to their proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Waters’ long involvement with NACo included participation in the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force.

When did you know county government was your calling? 

I studied public administration at the University of Tennessee, so I was always interested in government. I was elected right about when we changed our forms of county government in Tennessee, so the first few years, everyone was getting a feel for how things would work. But by the end of my first term, I started seeing some progress in the things we were trying to accomplish in the county, and I knew I wanted to keep doing this work.

What is your proudest achievement in Sevier County? 

Establishing a culture of cooperation, either with the county commission, other officials or city officials. I meet with all of them constantly and we don’t always agree, but we can disagree on one issue and be able to work together on something else. 

What did you learn from NACo that you brought home to Sevier County? 

I’ve been involved in NACo from my first year in office, and the relationships I’ve built with other county officials have really helped me.

How did you change as a county leader over your tenure? 

I don’t let things bother me. Early on, I figured out I’d have to handle criticism and disagreement. Talking to people who are upset or passionate about their community is a major part of the job, and if things get heated, I remember that they felt strongly enough to bring this up to me, so it’s important.

Why are you optimistic about the future of county government? 

I see the quality of people who are continually coming into county government, and many of whom are elected, and the passion they have, and the knowledge they have, and I see improvements all the time. There’s new energy, new ideas and a new standard for what the public expects from its leaders. But there’s a lot of responsibility now in the county government, more than there’s ever been.

What advice do you have for your successors?

Participate in organizations like NACo, your state association or local groups and learn anything you can. Make sure you get out of your county and see what other people are doing, learn from other folks and share what you’ve done. Someone has already made the errors and learned from them, so you don’t have to.