Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner
Many of you, our wise and learned County Judges and County Commissioners, have announced your upcoming retirement. For years, and in some cases decades, you have found ways to lend a helping hand. You have mentored new officials, shared valuable lessons during conferences, and served as subject matter experts for us here at County Progress. Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner took office Jan. 1, 2015. We appreciate Judge Tanner for taking the time to visit with us.
History: My history with the county began in or around 1981. Both of my kids were in grade school, and my husband and I decided that maybe I should find a job so we could still eat from time to time. I applied at the county attorney’s office here at Potter County and was hired. I loved it! I met so many wonderful people, learned the ropes of the office, became the office manager, and saw my first two dead bodies.
The county attorney who hired me left for greener pastures, and a new one came along. I was not fond of him, so I left and worked for a doctor and a few more attorneys before landing the job here at the county for the previous County Judge. I worked for him for over 15 years. He suffered a stroke and was unable to work, but they kept him on and in office until his term was up. In the meantime, things got a little rocky between us, at least on his side, and he fired me. That was a bit of a shock since I was the one who was literally covering for him all those years, but things happen. I was without a job for a few months when I decided that I would run for that position. I ran a very clean campaign against four opponents and defeated them all in the primary with 51 percent of the vote. I have been in this seat ever since Jan. 1, 2015, and I will leave here on Dec. 31, 2026, with a heart full of memories and laughter, as well as a few tears.
Lessons Learned: One of my most valuable lessons learned while here is that you never know what people are going through. On top of the usual probate, guardianship, and mental health cases that I do and presiding over Commissioners Court, our office deals quite a bit with the public. Whether it is a county cremation, weddings, or just somebody needing help, our office is the go-to. I have heard some of the saddest stories and the most bizarre stories, and sometimes there is just nothing I can do to help.
Staying Connected: I have an open-door policy at all times. If John Q. Citizen walks in and needs to speak to me, I make it happen. I think that is mandatory since I basically work for the public good.
Biggest Challenge: Besides the COVID pandemic, I think the next biggest challenge is and will always be finding enough money to fund the county without raising taxes; it is basically impossible to accomplish. Even though the Commissioners Court tries very hard to fund every department without a tax increase, most years taxes go up just a little.
Rewarding Experiences: In this position, I have found that a lot of people depend on others to make their life bearable. I deal with death, incapacity, mental illness, and many other and various subjects such as wildfires, floods, or any other force of nature. It is difficult to predict each and every one of these, but I find it very thought provoking to be involved with all of this. I often wonder if our forefathers actually thought this through before handing the gavel to a County Judge with or without their blessing. All in all, I have found it very difficult and extremely tiresome, yet so rewarding.
The one thing that will stand out above all others is the acquisition of the State Mental Health Hospital here in Amarillo, Potter County. I would like to say it is all because of me, but it is not. I simply raised my hand when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked, “What can I do for you?” I am thrilled that they are building a State Hospital here. The need is great. In the end, when my time has come to walk away, I know that I have made some lifelong friends and co-workers. A lot of people in this world cannot say that, and for that, I am blessed.