Clerk & Master’s delinquent property tax auction tops a million dollars

‘We collected a lot of taxes today’- Dennis Potter, Clerk & Master

**Under the leadership of Clerk & Master Dennis Potter, total annual revenue generated by the Clerk & Master’s auction has grown by more than 200% since 2015.**

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- History was made on Friday at the Clerk & Master’s delinquent property tax auction as sales topped a million dollars for the first time. “It shattered last year’s record by nearly a quarter of a million dollars,” said Dennis Potter, Clerk & Master.

WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery HERE.

Under the leadership of Potter, total annual revenue generated by the Clerk & Master’s auction has grown by more than 200% since 2015. Each year, auction totals have steadily grown. Friday’s total sales numbers came out to $1,178,223.04 compared to $955,978.80 in 2025. The 2018 auction brought in $204,801.16 to give you an idea of just how the sale has grown for Potter and his staff.

**Chief Deputy Clerk Lisa Sanders heads up the annual auction, and Pam Wright (right) is the County’s Delinquent Tax Process Server**.

It was an early arriving crowd well before 9am steadily filling the Chancery Courtroom, the lower courtroom, at the Campbell County Courthouse where it was standing room only with more than 80 folks in attendance.

**Joe Coker, Delinquent Tax Attorney, recognizes a bidder. Coker described each parcel in detail before starting bidding.**

“We don’t ever want to sell anyone’s property. However, if the tax is not paid, the property is sold at auction for the delinquent property taxes,” said Potter.

**More than 80 individuals attended Friday’s auction.**

“This annual event is a total team effort. My staff. My staff makes me look good. Lisa (Sanders) had it all documented and worked tirelessly to be accurate making sure all were notified,” said Potter. Sanders is Chief Deputy Clerk of the Clerk & Masters office.

**There was not a lot of elbow room as attendees sat shoulder to shoulder in the lower level courtroom.**

Attendees jump started the auction from the git-go. “Forty-eight parcels, a low number, sold, including a $300,000 lake parcel along with two mineral interests. The auction went as smooth as silk,” said Potter.

**Chief Deputy Clerk Lisa Sanders heads up the annual auction, and Pam Wright (right) is the County’s Delinquent Tax Process Server** **listen and watch at Friday’s auction as their year’s long preparation is being played out.**

Potter pointed out that his staff works year round preparing for this auction. Friday’s sale was for the tax year 2023 and any previous outstanding years.

**Most every bidder had a game plan going in to Friday’s delinquent property tax auction.**

“This sale takes a long time to organize, and there’s just no down time as a result. You have to remember that that’s in addition to handling the Chancery Court and keeping and executing dockets, filing and entering documents, pleadings, papers and exhibits, and more,” said Potter.

**Over the past few weeks, most of Friday’s attendees obtained a copy of the available parcels, did their homework and came out and bid on Friday morning.**

The Clerk & Master staff has already started on tax year 2024, according to Joe Coker, Delinquent Tax Attorney.(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-05/11/2026-6AM)

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