Knox County election 2026, Candidates share their goals for office
Almost 70 people attended the Concord-Farragut Republican Club meeting at Fruition Cafe on Thursday, Jan. 5, to hear three candidates seeking Knox County offices. Larsen Jay, Knox County commissioner for At-Large Seat 10, is running for the county mayor’s seat. Meanwhile, retired Knox County Sheriff’s Office officers Mike Davis and Brent Gibson are seeking election as sheriff.
Other candidates and public officeholders also attended the Jan. 5 meeting.
They are among the candidates seeking 16 county offices in the Tuesday, May 5, primary election. There also will be 23 state seats and three Farragut seats on the ballot.
The Knox County candidates said they must address concerns including traffic congestion, jail overcrowding, education and public safety.
“Now is a critical time in our community, and it’s an opportunity for us to invest in good leadership,” Jay said. “It’s going to require good common sense, conservative leadership that keeps Knox County strong, safe and prosperous and moving in the right direction as we continue to grow.
“For eight years, I’ve served as your at-large commissioner, and you put your trust in me to represent everyone across Knox County,” he said. “I’m very proud of the work that we’ve accomplished.
“In that time, we’ve invested in new schools, raised
pay for our deputies and supported critical infrastructure projects,” Jay said. “We’ve done that all while keeping taxes low.”
“This race is not going to be about the next four or eight years,” he added. “It’s going to be about the next 20 or 40 years because the next Knox County mayor will be at a critical junction of growth and opportunity, where every decision made will pave the way for decades to come.
“It’s also going to set the stage for your kids and grandkids who want to live here and actually can live here,” Jay said.
“My priorities are very clear and very focused,” he said. “First and foremost: infrastructure first. Everything starts with being able to move people, goods and services, keep traffic moving and avoid excessive congestion.”
“Behind that comes safe neighborhoods and strong law enforcement,” Jay said. “Nothing great happens in a growing community without a great law enforcement team.”
“Then comes excellence in education,” he said. “There is nothing more important to invest in than education. It is our workforce and the future of our community.”
Both sheriff’s candidates assured there would be increased law enforcement presence in Farragut.
“Also departmental transparency, financial responsibility, school safety, public engagement, recruitment and retention” are among the goals Gibson outlined.
“The most important thing about the Knox County Sheriff’s Office is people,” he said. “Not just the people who work for you, but also the people of Knox County. The better our communication and relationship with the community, the better off we’ll be.”
Gibson worked his way through the ranks of the sheriff’s office on patrol and in the SWAT team, serving as the team’s commander before retiring in 2024 after 25 years of service.
“I love the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and I love Knox County,” Gibson said. “I’m trying to give back to my community every chance I get.”
“My goal is to make the Knox County Sheriff’s Office the preeminent law enforcement agency in this state,” Davis said.
Davis, a retired agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Department of Justice, also worked with the sheriff’s office as a corrections officer and deputy.
Davis said his priorities include regular departmental audits, strengthening organized crime and drug units, addressing illegal immigration and responding to homelessness.
“What differentiates me from any other candidate is leadership,” Davis said. “The heart of the organization is who’s in charge. Leadership must be transparent, professional and have integrity.”
