NASHVILLE – Tennessee Rep. Mike Carter, a Hamilton County Republican, died Saturday at his Ooltewah home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 67.
In a short statement on his Twitter account, his family said, “Mike lost his battle with Pancreatic Cancer late last night, surrounded by his family. We’ll miss him very much. We appreciate your prayers during this difficult time.”
Carter, an attorney and former Hamilton County General Sessions Court judge, had been serving as chairman of the House Civil Justice Committee.
Calling it a “truly sad day” for Carter’s wife, Joan, and other family members, state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, said, “we have missed and will miss a giant in the legislature and the community. Politically speaking, I’ve lost my right arm in Nashville. He was the author of very substantive and substantial legislation that made Tennessee a much better place to live and do business in.”
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said Carter’s “many acts of mercy, compassion and kindness will be missed here and across the State of Tennessee. Nicole and I mourn the loss with our fellow members of the Hamilton County delegation and express our heartfelt condolences to Joan and the Carter family.”