Swain County Manager Lottie Barker submitted her 60-day resignation last week, officially accepted by the county board in a 4-1 vote during a Tuesday meeting, Dec. 16. Commissioner Bobby Jenkins cast the lone dissenting vote.
“Lottie has been hammered ever since she’s been here, by you [David Loftis] and people sitting right here, and if anyone should resign, you should be resigning,” Jenkins said during the discussion.
Barker, however, refocused the conversation on hiring her replacement, emphasizing that local government experience should be a requirement and that the new manager should have 120 days or a reasonable time frame to establish Swain County residency. Under North Carolina law, the county board is responsible for hiring a new manager.
Vice-Chair Tanner Lawson raised the question of whether a master’s degree should be required or preferred and stressed the importance of filling the position quickly to allow Barker time to train her successor. A bachlelor’s degree will be required, with a preferred master’s.
Barker was appointed county manager on Dec. 2, 2024, following a period as interim manager since April of last year. She brought more than a decade of experience in budgeting, financial management, community relations and policy development to the role. Barker earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina–Wilmington in 2024 and has served Swain County for approximately 14 years in roles including finance officer and HR director.
“Public service is demanding and often accompanied by strong and differing viewpoints,” Barker said. “During my time as both interim and county manager, I worked to advance the goals established by the county board and to support the dedicated county employees who serve our residents each day. While recent events have generated
significant public discussion, I believe my resignation and this transition are in the best interest of both the county and my own personal path. This decision was made with a lot of thought and prayer, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Barker added that she is proud of the progress made over her short-lived job as county manager.
“I am grateful to the many employees and community partners who contributed to that work, as accomplishments of this kind are never the result of one individual alone,” said Barker. “It has been a privilege to work alongside some of the best people that I have known. As I move forward and transition into new opportunities, I remain confident in the county’s leadership and staff and their ability to continue serving the public with integrity and focus. I appreciate the opportunity to have served the residents of Swain County and wish the county continued success.”
The job description of Swain County Manager can be found on the county website.