Sullivan County Comissioner Who Voted Against Juneteenth Recognition Arrested in North Carolina

 A Sullivan County Commissioner who blasted the celebration of Juneteenth was arrested by police in Asheville, North Carolina last month and charged with sexual battery.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office says Joe Carr was arrested early on Oct. 19th for sexual battery and intoxication/disruptive by the Asheville Police Department.  He is accused of inappropriately touching a woman at a nightspot on Woodfin Avenue in Asheville.

His mug shot from the Asheville Police Department:

Click on parts of the arrest report for Commissioner Carr to make the page larger.  (NOTE:  It is our policy at the Douglass website not to publish the names of sexual assault victims):

According to TV station WCYB-TV, Carr posted a $2,000 secured bond (meaning he had to put up some kind of physical collateral that's worth the amount of the bond).  He was released two days later on October 21st and it is not known if Carr spent two nights in jail.  Meanwhile, TV station WJHL-TV reached out to Carr, who directed any inquiries to his attorney. Carr’s attorney, Doug Edwards, provided the following statement to the station:

“Mr. Carr is innocent of the accusations made against him. We fully respect the judicial process, and are confident that once the facts are presented in a court of law, my client will be completely exonerated. We remind everyone that the presumption of innocence is not optional; it is a fundamental cornerstone of our justice system.

We are conducting our own investigation into this matter, and will aggressively challenge the allegations that have been made.

Mr. Carr remains focused on continuing to serve the people of Sullivan County with integrity.”

Commissioner Carr is no stranger to African American communities in Kingsport and Bristol.  He's known for his controversial comments regarding the recognition of Juneteenth as a county holiday. In a May 2023 meeting, Carr referred to Juneteenth as a "woke holiday" and voted against a resolution to make it a paid county holiday. 

During the discussion, Carr stated: "I just think Juneteenth is a woke holiday and we shouldn't give these people an inch". He also claimed that "almost nobody" in Sullivan County was in favor of the resolution and suggested the only people it would please were those who participated in gun control protests at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, which he described as an "insurrection". 

Despite his opposition and the "no" votes of three other commissioners, the Sullivan County Commission ultimately approved the resolution in a 17-4 vote to recognize Juneteenth (June 19) as an official paid county holiday, aligning with the federal and state holiday.  

Carr's comments sparked controversy and led to calls for his resignation or discipline from some members of the public via emails and phone calls to the mayor's office. Carr, who represents District 9, reportedly doubled down on his comments following the backlash. 

Sullivan County District 9 represented by Joe Carr is the area in

the map above.  Most of Kingsport's population is located in 

Districts 6, 8, 10 and 

11.  District 9 includes the entire neighborhood of

Ridgefields, the entire neighborhood of Lynn Garden, plus the

Carter's Valley area up at the state line, Lynn Garden Drive and

Gravely Road, West Stone Drive to the Holston River, and the

Netherland Inn Road (Old Kingsport) area.  It is one of the

smallest county commission districts in Kingsport.

The Sullivan County Democratic Party issued a statement after

Carr's arrest:

The Sullivan County Democratic Party calls for the immediate resignation of Sullivan County Commissioner Joe Carr, who was arrested for public intoxication and sexual battery in Asheville, North Carolina October 19, 2025. 

Carr’s arrest is an unfortunate addition to other incidents of unethical behavior in the last several months that clearly illustrate he is unfit to hold a position on Sullivan County Commission. 

In June, Carr publicly called Juneteenth “a woke holiday.” In September, he sent a message on social media to a constituent in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination stating, “Hope what happened to Charlie Kirk happens to you.” 

Sullivan County deserves leaders who work diligently for all Sullivan County residents and who represent our county with decorum and respect for the office. Joe Carr has proven he is unable to do that. 

The Sullivan County Democratic Party calls for Joe Carr’s resignation, and if that is not forthcoming, for his dismissal by the Sullivan County Commission.

We will continue to follow this important story.