It is time to begin a new era in Knox County politics.  Let me first strongly ask and suggest that you take part in this beginning by getting out and voting.  If you happen to reside and vote in Commission District 1, I would very much like you to request a write in ballot and write in me, Stephen Dupree, as your County Commission candidate for seat A.  Wherever in Knox County you live, I would love to see you write in Jim Andrews for Chancellor Div III and Randy Tyree for Sheriff.

The incumbents cannot serve.   Your vote, can very possibly make all the difference in this election.  We have the opportunity to bring an entirely new attitude to Knox County governance.  It is what so many of us have said we wanted for a long time.  Let's not let the opportunity slip through our fingers.

Thank you

Stephen Dupree

Candidate for County Commission - District 1 Seat A 

Hi, my name is Stacey Diamond and I'm running as a write-in for county commission Distrist 1 Seat A.

I am the ward chair for the Democratic Party in Fort Sanders (10) N. I've been active in the local party for 6 years. I've grown up in Knoxville and have a degree in journalism from UT. I decided this was an unprecedented opportunity where people without special interest connections were jumping in and I took it.

As far as issues in my neighborhood, I see nice and not so nice things in Fort Sanders that get overlooked. People have the misconception that its just for students or a dangerous place, which isn't true. Its an easy walk from downtown and one of the few places in Knoxville that you can walk to almost all your needs, such as restaurants, work, school, libraries, the post office etc.

On the other hand, since many residents are students and aren't politically active, many property owners keep their properties just barely up to code and charge a high price and many have no respect for history. I've seen one hundred year old houses and trees flattened in one afternoon just to make way for something bigger and newer but with less character. This happens on the UT campus as well.

I also see a stagnation in wages in Knoxville, while we don't have that many minimum wage jobs, we have too many 7$ an hour jobs, where a single person can barely get by and for a family its impossible.

Disputed election

Of the 49 local offices on the May 2 Knox County ballot, more than half, or 26, are unopposed.