The Two Thousand Eighteen Knox Co. primary election is about two years away. The two big positions on the ’18 ballot already have some activity. The Knox Co. Sheriff position is up and Sheriff Jimmy J.J. Jones is term limited. Chief Deputy Lee Tramel is meeting with a lot of potential supporters about his candidacy. Former Knox Co. Chief Deputy Tom Spangler has been making the Republican Club circuit and is expected to announce his candidacy in April. Former Jones opponent Bobby Waggoner is expected to support Spangler and not make the run himself.
Also, the position of Knox Co. Mayor will be on the ballot. Current Mayor Timmy Burchett is term limited. Knox Co. At Large Commissioner Bob Thomas is making the rounds talking to alot of political people about a Co Mayor run, he is expected to announce in May 2015. Also, Knox Co Republican Party Chairman Buddy Burkhardt is making noise about a possible County Mayor run. Knox Co Sixth District Commissioner and former Commission Chairman Brad Anders is considered a possible Mayoral contender and is being encouraged by non Thomas supporters.
Thomas was elected to Commission in 2014 without an opponent. That is considered a weakness and his lack of opponent and a contested race is ripe for an opponent that has actually bested an opponent. Anders defeated a Republican and Democrat opponents in 2008 and on March 1, received 60% of the Republican primary voters in the large northwest Knox Co District he represents.
The Ryan Haynes Effect
Former TN State House 14th District Member Ryan Haynes now TN Republican Party Chairman has been in Knoxville twice this week. He has met with many civic and business leaders. Several have encouraged him to consider running for Co. Mayor in 2018 while the same amount of civic and business leaders is encouraging him to stay put for an eventual Second District Congressional run, in 2-4 election cycles, Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. may retire in 4-8 years.
While many say Burchett is the one preparing for a Congressonal run when Duncan retires. Many believe Haynes would be a strong contender, with his legislative experience, his organizational experience as Chairman.
There is a strong contender from Blount Co. and a strong contender from Loudon Co that would be challenge Butchett. Haynes could unite the district, while evidence reveals that Burchett can not unite his own 6th floor City County Building suite. Burchett is in competition with his own Chief of Staff on foreign policy positions and the 2016 Republican Presidential campaign. The Co Mayor’s Chief of Staff continually writes letters to the editor to the local paper about foreign country issues and has posted a lot of social media posts about Republican presidential aspirants.
Knox Co Commission at Large
With Bob Thomas running for Mayor his at large Commisoon seat up for re-election it is expected that Robert Lawrence Smith, a former term limited Seventh District Co Commissioner will run countywide for the at large seat. It is expected he will have to face Justin Biggs an active Republican with youth and an energetic energizer bunny work ethic. Biggs brings a young family to the campaign, the things Smith lacks.
