Bipartisan Group of Current and Former Elected Officials, Civic Leaders Urge Voters to Reject City Charter Amendment No. 2

City Charter Amendment No. 2 would eliminate district representation and move to a fully at-large system for Knoxville's City Council

This November, Knoxville voters will decide on a referendum that could change how city council members are elected. If passed, City Charter Amendment No. 2 would remove district-level elections and move to a fully at-large system, where all council members, including those running for district seats, would be chosen by the entire city.

Currently, Knoxville’s system balances district and city-wide representation. District representatives are nominated by their districts in the primary but elected by the whole city in the general election, while three at-large seats are chosen city-wide. This system ensures that council members are accountable to their neighborhoods, while also holding them responsible to the broader Knoxville community.

However, the state legislature recently outlawed Knoxville's current electoral system, overriding the city’s voter-approved Home Rule Charter despite strong local opposition. We stand together in the conviction that changes to the city's electoral system should be decided by city voters – not the state.

Despite our disagreement with the state legislature’s actions, we must now focus on establishing an electoral system that best serves the needs and interests of city voters.

As proposed, we believe City Charter Amendment No. 2 is flawed and threatens to disrupt the balance between district and city-wide representation. The amendment would eliminate true district representation, allowing candidates to win district seats with little to no support from the people living in those districts. While council members would still have to reside in their districts, residency alone is insufficient—representation means being chosen by your neighbors, understanding their issues, and advocating for their needs.

Knoxville once had an at-large electoral system. In 1960, the city voted to abolish districts and move to a fully at-large electoral system. Voters quickly realized it didn’t provide fair representation and brought back district elections in 1968. The logic was clear then, and it remains clear now: district-level representation ensures that council members understand the specific needs of their district, and it ensures that all neighborhoods have a voice in the political process.

If this amendment is defeated, district seats will be elected by district voters and at-large seats will continue to be elected city-wide—a proven system used by most major cities.

For these reasons, we urge city residents to vote “no” on City Charter Amendment No. 2.

Sincerely,

Hancen Sale, Former Government Affairs and Policy Director, East Tennessee Realtors

Virginia Babb, Former Knox County School Board Member, District 4

Courtney Durrett, Knox County Commissioner, District 2

Lynne Fugate, Knoxville City Councilwoman, At-Large Seat A

Eddie Mannis, Former Tennessee State Representative, District 18

Sam McKenzie, Tennessee State Representative, District 15

Phyllis Nichols, Former Chief Executive Officer, Knoxville Area Urban League

Hugh Nystrom, Former Knox County Commissioner, District 4

Matthew Park, Former Candidate for Knox County Commission, District 9

Amelia Parker, Knoxville City Councilwoman, At-Large Seat C

Randy Smith, Former Knox County Commissioner, District 3

Janet Testerman, Former Knoxville City Councilwoman, At-Large Seat B

George Wallace, Former Knoxville City Councilman, At-Large Seat A