County Commission Appoints Donnie Adams as Road Superintendent

Sevier County, Tennessee (December 16, 2025) – The Sevier County Board of Commissioners voted Monday evening to appoint Donnie Adams as Sevier County Road Superintendent.

Adams has served as Interim Road Superintendent since September 1, following the resignation of longtime Road Superintendent Jonas Smelcer, which took effect on August 31. Prior to serving in the interim role, Adams has worked for the Highway Department since 2003, including serving as Assistant Road Superintendent since 2022.

The appointment followed a public nomination and review process conducted in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated § 5-5-111 and § 54-7-104. As outlined in a public notice, nominations were accepted through the Sevier County Mayor’s Office and reviewed by the Steering Committee. Nominations were also accepted from the floor during the December 15 County Commission meeting.

All nominees were required to meet certification requirements set forth by the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification Board, along with other qualifications required by state law. Following consideration of the nomination and the recommendation of the Steering Committee, the Sevier County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Adams as Road Superintendent.

“We are happy for Donnie and know that he will do a great job,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “He has proven himself through years of service with the Highway Department, and we are confident in his leadership as he continues this important work for our County.”

Adams expressed appreciation for the appointment and the confidence placed in him by the Commission.

“I want to thank the Board of Commissioners for their trust and confidence,” Adams said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Sevier County and look forward to continuing the hard work of maintaining and improving our County roads.”

As normal, the position of Sevier County Road Superintendent will appear on the ballot in the next County election. The County Primary Election will be held on May 5, 2026, followed by the County General Election on August 6, 2026.