In Knox County’s District One County Commission Republican Primary there are two candidates, Charles Frazier and Justin Hirst. Frazier is a well known entity having been involved in the East Knoxville community, active at WJBZ radio and as play by play for Austin East Sports.
First District is predominately African American, look back to the 2021 City Coucil race between Council Member Gwen McKenzie and Garrett Holt and four years prior between McKenzie and a very popular caucasian Knoxville Realtor. In the first race between the popular female Realtor it was about the African American community losing the African American voice on Council. In the same election, Seema Singh won the Third District as McKenzie did in the Sixth. Two years later Amelia Parker was elected to at Large Seat C seat.
In the first financial disclosure for Hirst, he named a Treasurer on January 5, 2024 he received $652.40 with $25 from am Alice Bell retiree, $100 from Martin Ammons, $250 from Law Office of Daniel Herrera and $52.48 from another Alice Bell resident. You can find Hirst disclosure here.
In other financial disclosures, Hirst gave $250 to Second District Republican candidate Debbie Phillips Republican challenger to Commissioner Courtney Durrett and Independent Ethan Grantham, $250 to Fifth District Republican candidate Angela Russell, challenger to Brian Walker, Toni Scott, Brad Hall and Dale Skidmore. $260.73 to Andy Fox Ninth District Republican County Commission challenger to Republican Barry Neal. Hirst gave $416.98 to Republican Daniel Herrera, challenger to Law Director David Buuck.
Now, there has been some chatter about bonafide Republican status in one Knox County Commission race. There was only ONE bonafide challenge in all of Knox County and that was in one Commission race. I have the voting record of all candidates in all races. In the Republican Primary of the First District, Charles Frazier has voted in 2 out of the last 4 State/Federal Primaries (August 4, 2022 and August 2, 2018), making Frazier a 2/4. Hirst has cast a vote in 1 out of the last 4 State/Federal Primaries (August 4, 2022) making Hirst a 1/4 (the only other Republican vote on Hirst record is 8/3/2006)
