Governor Bill Lee announced on Friday that Butch Eley, who is the state’s deputy governor and transportation commissioner, will leave his role after the Fiscal Year 2025’s third quarter ends.
Eley has been a part of the governor’s cabinet for almost seven years. He said he was not retiring, but stepping away to spend more time with his family.
The deputy governor stated that it “has been the honor of a lifetime to serve Governor Lee and the people of Tennessee.”
“From building long-term systems that better serve Tennesseans, to navigating some of our state’s toughest challenges, I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Eley stated.
“This moment marks not an end, but a pause—a chance to ensure a smooth transition and reflect on how I can continue to make an impact in new ways,” he explained.
Lee said Eley (pictured above) has been one of his most “trusted advisors” since he decided to run for governor in 2017.
The governor said he “turned” to Eley after his first inauguration to guide the state through the COVID pandemic.
During this time, Eley helped Tennessee be one of five states to close Fiscal Year 2020 in the black and preserve the state’s AAA bond rating.
After Lee’s second inauguration, he mentioned that Eley became the state’s transportation commissioner, where he helped prepare its infrastructure for Tennessee’s future population growth.
While in this position, Eley helped negotiate the deal with the Tennessee Titans on a new stadium.
Lee said that he “entrusted” Eley with some of the hardest challenges facing Tennessee, and the deputy governor “consistently overachieved.”
“Butch has served the people of Tennessee with the highest level of excellence, and God has blessed Maria and me with a lifelong friend,” Lee said. “I thank him for his unwavering leadership.”
Even though he is leaving, Eley said he thinks the Tennessee Department of Transportation “is in good hands.”
“The values that define this work will continue to guide the road ahead. As for me, I’m taking a breath and giving thoughtful consideration to my next steps and what that might look like. I’ve always believed in the power of service—and that belief is stronger than ever.”
Lee has not announced who will take over for Eley.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
