Women's Tribute: Kim Carter

For more than two decades, Kim Carter has worked behind the scenes at Huntingdon’s City Hall, helping manage the financial and administrative work that keeps the town operating day to day.

Today, she serves as town recorder for the Town of Huntingdon, a position she has held since 2017 and one that places her at the center of many of the town’s operations.

“The town recorder has several responsibilities,” Carter said. “I’m director of finance, so I’m over the finance and administration office, the office staff. I’m the risk management director, and I serve as the recording secretary for several of the town boards.”

Those boards include the planning commission, industrial board, beer board and the ADA access committee. Carter also prepares agendas and minutes for meetings and works closely with several town departments.

Carter oversees the finance and administration office, working with staff members Jana Autry, payroll personnel clerk; Alisa Hampton, accounting clerk; Jennifer Breeden, accounts payable clerk; and Carla Jeffries, utility billing clerk.

“It’s definitely a team effort,” Carter said. “It takes a large group to handle everything.”

The office handles a wide range of responsibilities for the town. Residents may come in to pay utility bills or property taxes, apply for building permits or request services related to water utilities or public works. The office also manages the sale of cemetery lots at Oak Hill Cemetery and Clark Cemetery.

“There are just lots of things that happen that City Hall handles that I think people do not know or realize,” Carter said.

Carter has worked for the town for more than 22 years, and she loves the community that she serves. But she hasn’t always called Huntingdon her home.

Carter grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School in 1996. She later attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting in 2000. She completed her Master of Accountancy the following year.

After graduating, Carter worked part-time in the clerk and master’s office at the Carroll County Courthouse, assisting with chancery court.

Her connection to Huntingdon began several years earlier. She moved to Huntingdon in 1997 after marrying Scott Carter, whom she called “a Huntingdon boy.”

When an accounting position opened with the Town of Huntingdon, Carter applied.

Carter was hired by then-Mayor Dale Kelley in June 2003 and worked as the town’s accounting clerk for more than a decade. During that time, she worked closely with longtime town recorder Martha Taylor, who became an important mentor.

Taylor encouraged Carter to complete the Certified Municipal Finance Officer program through the State of Tennessee and the Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Carter finished the 11-month program in 2013.

When Taylor retired in December 2016, Carter was appointed town recorder effective January 1, 2017.

She became the second woman to hold the position in Huntingdon’s history. Taylor was the first, appointed in 1995.

“For many years it was a man’s position, up until Martha was appointed,” Carter said.

Taking on the role meant following in the footsteps of someone who had trained her for years.

“I have big shoes to fill,” Carter said. Taylor died in November 2024, and Carter does her best to carry the lessons she learned from her mentor.

During her time with the town, Carter has served three different mayors. She has also seen several major projects take shape in the community.

She worked as the town’s accountant during construction of the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center and during development of Lake Halford, formerly known as the Carroll County Thousand Acre Lake.

“I’ve said to people many times, ‘I never dreamed that I would be part of building a performing arts center and building a recreational lake,’” Carter said.

Her role involved managing financial records and payments related to the projects as construction progressed.

Working in City Hall has also helped Carter become more connected to the community she now calls home.

“Because I am here in City Hall, I’m very involved in the community and the things that are going on,” she said. “Through my job and working with the public, I’ve come to know a lot of the town and the citizens.”

Outside of work, Carter spends most of her time with family and church.

Her husband works for the Huntingdon Special School District as supervisor of instruction, overseeing technology for the district. He also serves as pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where he was called to serve in 2006.

Carter grew up attending a small church in Lexington, and church life has remained an important part of her life. She and her husband have been involved in their congregation for nearly 20 years, helping organize youth activities and spending time with members who have become like family.

She often visits her parents, Ricky and Brenda Lewis, and her two brothers, who still live in Lexington. She and her husband also enjoy spending time with their nieces and nephews.

For Carter, the work she does at City Hall comes down to a simple purpose: helping the public.

That commitment to service is what she hopes people remember about her, her work and the role she plays in the community.

“Helping my community,” Carter said. “That’s what I feel that I’m here for, is just to help and make Huntingdon a good place to live.”