Gwen McKenzie said the crowd “warmed my heart” at a meet and greet Tuesday at Holly’s Gourmet Market hosted by Phyllis Nichols and Cynthia Moxley.
Moxley, meanwhile, was mumbling about running out of name tags. “We bought 30 extra and still ran out.”
Of course, you can’t argue with the food at Holly Hambright’s. It was a fine spread.
McKenzie acknowledged her husband, Sam, saying while this was her “first journey into politics,” she had ventured in with Sam’s two campaigns for the county commission.
She acknowledged several in the crowd, calling out former city council member Larry Cox for special praise. “He’s working hard … calls me every morning asking if I’ve done this or that.” She thanked former Mayor Victor Ashe, a co-host of the event.
“Just remember, ‘Gwen for the Win,’” she said.
Other candidates present included two from District 2 – Andrew Roberto and Wayne Christensen; Harry Tindell from District 4; and James Corcoran from District 3. Early voting is underway and the citywide election is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
The ballot includes Roberto and Christensen from West Knox; Stephanie Welch and Rebecca Parr from South Knox; Corcoran and Seema Singh Perez, Northwest Knox; McKenzie and Jennifer Montgomery, East Knox; and Lauren Rider and Tindell, North Knox.
Five new members – a majority – of council will be elected Nov. 7, replacing the term-limited Nick Pavlis, Duane Grieve, Brenda Palmer, Nick Della Volpe and Daniel Brown.