Twelve of 13 candidates for Knoxville City Council met with the Fountain City Business and Professional Association Wednesday at Beaver Brook Country Club. (Click here for a list of candidates and their contact info.)
Perhaps invitations should have gone just to the District 4 candidates – the only race on Fountain City residents’ ballot for Aug. 31. The top two vote getters from each district will compete citywide on Nov. 2.
As moderator R. Larry Smith observed, there are three distinct groups of candidates: those identifying with the City Council Movement that elected Amelia Parker in 2019 – David Hayes, Jen McMahon and Deidra Harper; those supported by the young bloods of the Republican Party who want to “take back Knoxville” – Elizabeth Murphy, Kim Smith, Nicholas Ciparro, Jim Klonaris and Garrett Holt.
And a third group, “I don’t know what to call them,” said Smith. “Incumbents!” said Lauren Rider.
An audience member noted, “It’s the incumbents versus the fringe groups.”
Voter turnout will decide who moves on, and energized minorities often pull upsets in low turnout elections.
On Wednesday, candidates were limited to one minute or 30 seconds or a simple raised hand. That’s no way to debate/discuss issues. I suspect the candidates were as frustrated as the audience.
City Council Movement candidates Jen McMahon, Deidra Harper and David Hayes. (from their website)
District 1 (South Knoxville and UT) – the incumbent is Tommy Smith, a marketing executive and community volunteer. He was appointed to the seat when Stephanie Welch took a job with Mayor Indya Kincannon. Smith says he’s really proud of his district – open parks and public land; vacant buildings on Chapman Highway and in Vestal offer space for businesses to start and grow, creating “access to opportunity.”
David Hayes zapped the hosts by saying he favors Knoxville for all and “people shouldn’t have to pay $14 (the cost of lunch at Beaver Brook) to enter the room.” Hayes said the lack of affordable housing is a major problem. “People are being priced out.” He took issue with a remark by another candidate. “I’m not here to negotiate between developers and homeowners. I’m taking the neighbors’ side.”
Elizabeth Murphy said she decided to run after “seeing things wrong” with Knoxville. “We’re down 40 officers” in KPD. Going door-to-door, she has been “utterly shocked” at the poverty in her district, “yet we spend $500,000 for a mural.” She said the city is spending more money than it’s bringing in.
District 2 (West Knoxville) – Incumbent Andrew Roberto did not attend; challenger Kim Smith said she moved here 34 years ago and her background is in accounting. She is finding people “frustrated with our current government … people are not being heard.” She supports street improvements and more sidewalks in her district. With only two candidates, both will advance to the citywide general election.
District 3 (Northwest) – Ditto here with just two candidates. But these two don’t like each other and fireworks ensued. Challenger Nick Ciparro said people tell him that Singh doesn’t return phone calls or show up at neighborhood meetings. The three chief issues are representation, taxes and safety, he said. And then there’s traffic. “Western Avenue is backed up every morning.” He said rising property values will mean a tax increase even if the council does not vote for one. Ciparro wants lower taxes.
Incumbent Seema Singh disputed Ciparro’s claims. She said District 3 is neither red nor blue. “I see it as people with issues that we sit at a kitchen table and discuss.” She said the widening of Schaad Road is changing the district and she’s asked for a corridor study of Western Avenue. “Customer service is my job on the council.”
District 4 (Fountain City, North and Northeast) – Incumbent Lauren Rider handily fended off challengers Amelia Parker and Harry Tindell in 2017, and she should win again. A librarian at Pellissippi State, she also restored commercial buildings before election to the council. Her top issues during her first term were improved access to downtown for pedestrians and bicyclists; changes in zoning to enable commercial and residential growth near public transportation; and adding a co-responder team to KPD. She cited housing and homelessness as priorities for the next term.
Jim Klonaris said representation is not balanced. “Needs are not being heard and acted on. The answer is not an increase in taxes; we are spending money on a few people.” He said he grew up here and has opened 17 businesses in 35 years. “I’m fearful of the direction our city is moving.” He is strongly anti-tax, saying any tax increase “will crush people in poverty.”
Jen McMahon cited “gaps in service” and said “Broadway is not working for businesses.”
District 6 – (East Knoxville, downtown and a chunk of the West High zone) Deidra Harper is bringing a hard fight to Vice Mayor Gwen McKenzie. And the GOP candidate, Garrett Holt, campaigns like a guy who was recruited to fill out the ticket.
McKenzie listed her priorities as growth and safe neighborhoods. “Economic growth solves poverty. We must grow and attract businesses.” Also, she said the city must address crime.
Harper said 42% of the residents in District 6 live in poverty. Issues include a lack of resources from the city’s budget and “equitable development in our area.”
Holt said he running “to turn things around.” His issues are gangs and violence, an understaffed police force and a lack of economic development in District 6.
Sandra Clark is editor/CEO of Knox TN Today.