Tuesday, Aug. 28, kicked off the election season as the polls closed for the primary elections for the Knoxville City Council. The two largest vote recipients will advance to the general election Nov. 4, 2025; however, Knoxvillians did not get out and vote this year, especially in the early voting numbers. Early voting saw the lowest turnout on record in the past seven years — just a mere 6 percent. When results piled in, data indicated some primary elections in the districts were decided by just a select few votes, with a total of 9,515 voters casting their ballots out of the 82,848 possible — just shy of a 12% turnout.

Knoxvillians were voting to choose successors for the representatives in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, as all current officeholders had reached their two-term limit and were ineligible for re-election. The winners of the Nov. 4 election will serve four-year terms under Mayor Indya Kincannon, whose second and final term will run through 2027.

It should be noted that the City Council elections are non-partisan.

District 1

In the 1st City Council District, out of a total of 4 candidates, Karyn Adams received 914 votes and Becky Jones received 331 votes, advancing them to the general election this coming November.

Karyn Adams

• A wife and mother of two, Karyn Adams is a small business owner focusing on marketing and communications. She defines herself as a pragmatic progressive, and as a former planning commissioner for the city, she hopes to bring experience with affordable housing to the table, as well as tackle infrastructure projects. She earned a few notable progressive endorsements, including from Deputy Mayor Tommy Smith, State Representative Gloria Johnson, Moms Demand Action (a pro-gun reform organization) and the environmental organization Sierra Club.

Becky Jones

• Becky Jones, an insurance agent and a lifelong resident of South Knoxville is campaigning on advocating and supporting law enforcement, both by increasing recruitment and increasing resources. She says the City Council does not have control over what the individuals are building and has said no to “mini-apartments in established single-family detached neighborhoods.” She supports opening the Gay Street Bridge and increasing shopping options in the southern part of the city. She’s vocally against the sales tax referendum that will appear on the ballots in November.

District 2

In the 2nd District, Nathan Honeycutt with 1,551 votes, as well as Melody Watts with 403 votes, advanced to the next round. These were the only 2 candidates who entered this district primary race.

Nathan Honeycutt

• Nathan Honeycutt is the father of two, a native of East Tennessee and an architect who has worked on a variety of projects. Passionate about sustainability and historic renovation, as well as helping to renovate and build mixed-income housing units. He sees potential growth for the city of Knoxville while keeping its character and what he called its “specialness.” Regarding the proposed tax hike, Honeycutt said it must be a transparent process — the current administration must make “a clear, compelling case for the proposal.”

Melody Watts

• Melody Watts’ campaign focuses on protecting citizens’ rights, ensuring a safe and thriving community (defending the constitutional rights against infringements by the city government), reducing wasteful spending as well as supporting local law enforcement. She also wants to preserve single-family neighborhoods and address homelessness. Watts is against the sales tax referendum.

Jed Baso / Contributor

Students enter the Baker School, Aug. 26, 2025

District 3

Out of 4 candidates, Doug Lloyd with 756 votes and Frank Ramey with 571 votes will proceed to the general election.

Doug Lloyd

• Doug Lloyd is a local electric small business owner, husband, father and grandfather. His focus is on fixing the roads, supporting the fire and police departments, streamlining housing codes and trying to create better business-friendly policies. He hopes to bring common-sense principles to the council. He is also opposed to the tax increase.

Frank Ramey

• Frank Ramey is a husband, father and investor in both residential and commercial properties, and the president of an online ammunition retailer. His focus is on affordable living, creating economic opportunities, helping to provide property tax relief programs for senior residents and first-time homebuyers, stopping illegal dumping and littering as well as implementing policies to require developers to hold publicized community meetings before major projects. He’s vocally against the sales tax referendum that will appear on the ballots in November.

District 4

Matthew DeBardelaben, with 1,589 votes, as well as Jeff Talman, with 1,067, advanced to the next series of elections. Noted that Jane George, former Democratic nominee in 2024 for Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District, had been running for the spot but dropped out in July for unknown reasons. Her name still appeared on the ballot and garnered 193 votes.

Matthew DeBardelaben

• Matthew DeBardelaben is a commercial real estate broker with a passion for historic preservation. He has served as board chair of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance and is currently a member of the city’s Design Review Board. A staunch housing and sustainable growth advocate, he has fought for more housing options in the city. He hopes to fix the traffic patterns and infrastructure issues across the city, leading to congestion and traffic issues. He wants to improve walkability and bikeability. In terms of safety, he hopes to encourage more officer training on de-escalation tactics and mental health strategies. Lastly, he hopes to improve the KAT bus system to make it an overall better experience. DeBardelaben said that if the voters pass the sales tax increase and he gets elected, he’ll make sure the mayor spends the new tax money the way voters want.

Jeff Talman

• Jeff Talman is a mortgage loan officer who describes himself as a common-sense pragmatic. He wants to address the mental health and addiction crisis in the city, invite modernization of existing housing and is a Board member of the Knoxville Empowerment Zone Governance Committee. Talman is against the sales tax.

District 6

Denzel Grant, with 566 votes, and Stan Johnson, with 488 votes, will advance to the general after beating out 3 other candidates for the spot on the general ballot come November.

Denzel Grant

• Denzel Grant is the Executive Director of Turn Up Knox— an organization committed to interrupting the different cycles of gun violence in the Knoxville area. He’s a father, veteran and leader focused on violence prevention. He wants to increase community investment, supporting programs that uplift youth and expand the community voices. Additionally, he hopes to tackle affordable housing through additional programs, increase street and traffic safety, and minimize vehicle pollution.

Stan Johnson

• Stan Johnson is the SEEED (Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development) Knox director, an organization that focuses on empowering underserved communities through green job training, sustainable housing and environmental education. He believes in economic development but not displacement, walkability in the city, curbing violent crimes through local violence interruption groups and building generational wealth for individuals to afford housing.