The Sunday morning edition of WBIR’s political discussion program featured a lively panel on the Knox County Trustee race, with incumbent Justin Biggs appearing alongside his two Republican primary opponents. Moderated by anchor John Becker, the segment included former Knox News journalist John North, along with a Democrat-affiliated lawyer and a Republican PR representative serving as panelists.
This appearance highlighted ongoing tensions in local politics, particularly around disclosures and potential conflicts of interest. Toward the end of the show, Becker pressed one panelist—Susan Williams—for a relevant personal connection. Williams disclosed that her granddaughter has been employed for a couple of years (roughly since 2023–2024) in the office of Property Records Custodian Nick McBride, one of Biggs’ challengers in the 2026 trustee election.
This family tie raises questions about impartiality in commentary on the race. It’s worth noting this isn’t the first instance of Williams family members working in Knox County government roles; several years ago, another relative was employed in the Property Assessor’s office under John Whitehead.
Adding context to potential undisclosed influences, public records show that on May 12, 2022, Williams contributed $500 to the campaign of the Register, the granddaughter’s employment as detailed in this July 2022 Campaign Financial Disclosure report (page 3). This donation was not mentioned during the broadcast.
For full transparency: I have been employed in the Knox County Trustee’s office since October 6, 2022, initially as a seasonal part-time worker. A staff vacancy arose in March or April 2023, which I filled as a full-time position. While some local media outlets have highlighted changes in my compensation, they often omit the full timeline and context of the role transition.
Broader media coverage of Trustee Biggs has been notably critical since around April 22, 2025. Biggs announced his re-election bid and was reported by the daily paper on April 8, 2025, with a campaign kickoff event at Smokies Park (Covenant Health Park) on April 22, 2025. The first major investigative piece by reporter Allie Feinberg appeared that same day (April 22), focusing on office spending. Biggs opponent named a campaign treasurer and formally launched his opposition campaign effort the very next day, April 23, 2025. Reporterette Feinberg wrote of the candidacy at the time, she also attended Biggs event, wrote about it and has yet to attend any other campaign event kickoffs………
The Tennessee Comptroller’s investigation into county vehicle usage and travel expenses—sparked in part by these reports—wrapped up in August 2025. It resulted in indictments against a former Trustee staffer and Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard, though Biggs himself faced no criminal charges from a grand jury presentment.
In a competitive primary where scrutiny is high, voters deserve full context on relationships, past contributions, and family connections influencing public discourse. Calls for consistent disclosure standards benefit everyone involved in local elections. As the 2026 race heats up, transparency remains key to informed decision-making.
Nice start Becker and WBIR…. You Have More Room to grow, before becoming as Consistent and Transparent as The Mega Bulllhorn of Truth a Brian Hornback Production.
