The Unofficial Mayor of Knoxville
Joe Jarret is the “Mayor of Knox County.” Oh sure, there are two people who were elected Mayor: one for Knoxville and another for Knox County. Most places have one mayor; Knoxville has three including Professor Jarret. He literally knows everyone: lawyers, judges, police, city officials. His contributions make Knoxville safer and more agile and improve the lives of thousands of people who have never met or voted for the de facto Mayor of Knoxville.
For four years he served as chief legal counsel for the County. He works with the bar association and veteran’s groups. He provides free legal advice. He gives talks and mentors educators and city and county officials about risk management, education, and legal questions. Teaching undergraduate classes like budgeting, administrative law, and personnel management often created an interest and a path to a graduate program or law school. In the MPPA program, his fingerprints are even more visible. He helps train the next generation of public officials.
And his title is like a segment from Sesame Street, brought to you by most of the letters of the alphabet. He just recently added three more: PhD to the original BA, MPA, JD.