farragutpress

Meet the ’24 5th District candidates

February 14, 2024 by Tammy Cheek

Four candidates seeking the 5th District Knox County Commission seat and two candidates seeking the 5th District Board of Education seat revealed their experience and priorities as part of Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast Speaker Series in Rothchild Catering and Conference Center Wednesday morning, Feb. 7.

County Commission candidates — S. Arthur Moore, Toni Scott, Dale Skidmore and Brian Walker — and School Board candidates, Lauren Morgan and Terrye Whitaker, were on hand to field questions during the event. County Commission candidate Brad Hall also was on hand, but he had to leave due to work — however, he submitted information.

“We do our breakfast speaker series about three or four times a year,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said. “We try to bring educational programs to membership and the community, which will impart you with the knowledge you need to either help you in your business, help you in your individual lives, and on mornings like this, to make educated decisions about who our elected officials are going to be.”

Bios, County Commission

5th District

Dr. Arthur Moore

“I was born in Greenville, Tennessee. Left Greenville, left the scrimmage of my father and went to Vanderbilt instead of the University of Tennessee. Stayed at Vanderbilt and got my undergraduate degree and then my medical degree, and then left Tennessee for a brief while. Went up and did my residency and fellowship at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

“Always wanted to come back to East Tennessee. It’s like I’ve told my wife, mountains really get into your blood. This is where my family still lives. This is where I always wanted to come and raise my two daughters.

“I have one golden doodle. Her name is Blossom and she’s the best dog I’ve ever had.”

Brad Hall

A captain with Knox County Sheriff’s Office (serving 29 years), currently directing the West precinct. A life-long Knox County resident with deep community ties.

Thirty-five years in law enforcement who has been honored multiple times as Officer of the Month and distinguished as Detective of the Year in 2007 for outstanding service.

Belongs to Hope for Victims, Send Senior Citizens Love, Town of Farragut Stakeholders Committee, Knoxville Open Championship Committee and was named 2023 Volunteer of the Year.

Toni Scott

“I’m a wife and a mother and a former teacher. I’m actually from District 5. I grew up here. My husband’s family is from here as well. And we have three children that are in the Farragut schools just like where we were. And we are excited to be running.

“We have two (teenagers) in high school; we have a senior and a sophomore, and then we have a seventh-grade boy. So our senior will actually be playing baseball at UT next fall. So we’re excited to get to watch him pursue his dream. So coach (Tony Vitello) has a great program there.”

Dale Skidmore

“I am a lifelong East Tennessee resident. I grew up in Jefferson County, but I have been in Knox County now for over 30 years. I’m married and I have two children, 13 and 10. My 13-year-old son will keep you on your toes, but my 10-year old daughter’s an angel.

“I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee. I have a passion for Knox County. I love this place. I have a vested interest professionally. I own my own business in the Fifth District. I have an insurance agency, and I’ve owned that going on 10 years in September.”

Brian Walker

“Ive been a business owner for over 23 years, primarily in insurance. But over the years I’ve actually bought and sold some other businesses as well, including property management, real estate.

“My wife and I owned a martial arts studio for five years. I flipped homes. I’ve actually built homes from the ground up as well, so got a lot of experience in the business world; also in the Chamber of Commerce, too.

“… So a lot of business background for myself. I’ve been married for over 20 years. We have a son who just finished college, and my daughter is a sophomore at Virginia Tech. … And she is in the Corps Cadets, which means when she graduates from Virginia Tech, she’ll go directly into the Navy as an officer. So we’re very proud of her and her accomplishments, as far as that goes. I have one dog and two cats: Hazel, Larry, and Snoodle.

You miss anything about the northeast? New Hampshire.

“I grew up in New Hampshire. … a small town, pretty much just like Farragut, right on the river. Same size population, same school system. Moved to Southern California for college, and that’s where I met my wife. And then we transitioned over here about four years now.”