JOHN COFFELTEditor

It’s been about 20 years since former Coffee County Circuit Court Clerk Heather Duncan spoke before a Manchester Chamber of Commerce event as president in 2001, yet Duncan, who has been with the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service for several years now was invited as the August luncheon guest speaker.

“Growth never starts with no,” Duncan said. “Those facing a midlife crisis and don’t know what you want to do or what to be, say ‘yes.’”

Duncan transitioned after what she calls the greatest honor of her life, serving 27 as circuit court clerk to CTAS, an advisory service that since its charter in 1973 provides advice and educational resources to elected officials in county government at 51 years old.

Duncan recalled the night in 1994 after winning her first primary election, when the excitement wore off and the stark reality of soon she would have to start doing a job that she feared she was unprepared for.

“That’s were CTAS comes in and helps,” Duncan said. “We help bridge that gap between the new official and their new office. And we help experienced officials when there is a law change.”

Duncan said that while federal state politics get the most public attention, local government is the closest to the people.

“We all get awfully involved in the presidential election or the governor’s race because it’s sexy,” Duncan said. “We don’t tend to even know what our local issues are. Or even who is in those offices.”

Duncan asked rhetorically if people vote for their candidate because they know the most about the office or if they were just more popular.

“If citizens elect someone that’s really knowledgeable, it makes my work a lot easier,” she said.

Duncan said that garbage and animal control are the two biggest issues affecting county governments, yet in general diplomacy is a key issue stressed to elected officials.

“We kind of lost our diplomacy,” Duncan said. “That (mindset) trickled down from national to state to local (government).”

Duncan said CTAS works to teach local government officials how to work together to serve citizens.

“When we have (governing bodies) that know what they are supposed to do and get along, we as citizens have better, more efficient, responsive government than when we have people who have motives, and issues and their heart is not in the right place,” Duncan said.

Duncan was president of the Manchester Chamber in 2001. She joined CTAS in February of 2021.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.