City Council District 1 Vice Mayor Tommy Smith, District 2 Andrew Roberto, District 3 Seema Singh, District 4 Lauren Rider and District 6 Gwen McKenzie have served two terms and are term limited. Unlike a couple Knox County elected’s, these Councilmembers are not seat hopping. They may and could run for something else in the future, like all four could run for Mayor in 2027. But not currently seeking a position in 2025.
The petition filing deadline is May 15 at Noon. Let’s look at who has petitions and how it is currently shaking up.
District One – Knox Planning Commissioner Karyn Adams (she has the Democrat Jack Vaughan running her campaign), Lindsey Jaremko also Knox Sheriff supporter and Back the Blue organizer/activist Becky Jones.
District Two – former Knox County Republican Party Secretary Jeremy Coffey has a petition. Nathan Honeycutt has returned his petition. At Thursday April 24th Center City Conservatives Republican Club, I was told that there are a couple candidates being encouraged.
District Three – former District Three candidate Nick Ciparro has returned a petition. former Knox Sheriff employee Ivan Harmon has returned a petition. Doug Lloyd, member of Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals and owner of Lloyd’s Electric has returned a petition.
District Four – Matthew Debardalaben has returned a petition. Former Knoxville Mayoral candidate and Loan Officer Jeff Talman has a petition, I understand he is working through the residency requirements (as he rebuilds his home in Fourth and Gill)
District Six – always draws a crowd (at least every 8 years, two four year terms), back in July 2017 this crowd sough the seat Damon Rawls (elected to First District Knox County Commission in 2024), Zimbabwe U. Matavou, Brandy Slaybaugh, Shawnee Rios, Kennie Riffey, Jennifer Montgomery, Gwen McKenzie, David Gillette, Charles Frazier (Republican nominee for Knox County Commission in 2024), Michael Covington, Maurice L. Clark, Sr., Dr. John A. Butler (First District Knox County School Board Member in 2022) and Joyce Brown. Montgomery and McKenzie made it out of the Primary, McKenzie won the City of Knoxville General Election. This year the Primary and General stay in the district.
As of Friday, the following have petition, NAACP Knoxville President Sam Brown, Charles Frazier, Tibor Gaal, Denzel Grant, Deidra Harper, SEED Founder Stan Johnson, George J. “cat dad” Raudenbush, III, Jordan Walley and Lawrence “man” Williams.
