KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As election day draws near, it’s important to know who is on your ballot. We spoke with local candidates who are all vying for votes in the upcoming election.
The Knox County Commission District One seat is up for grabs with Dasha Lundy opting not to seeking a second term. That battle has come down to Republican nominee Charles Frazier and Democratic nominee Damon Rawls.
What to know for the upcoming August Elections in East TN “I was Vice President of the NAACP. I’ve served on a lot of boards, the Helen Ross McNabb Drop-in Center,” Frazier said. “I’m a person who broadcasts the Knox County football games and associate with our young people. I’ve taught school and my families been in business here for three generations. I am connected to the community.”
“I started the Knoxville Black Business Directory in COVID to help promote and stand up black businesses,” Rawls said. “Now we are actually doing entrepreneurship classes to help stand up more black businesses. I’ve been involved with the Urban League as a young professional in my 20’s.”
While they both believe they are the best candidates for the job, if elected they want to tackle two different issues. Rawls saying the county needs to figure out a way to solve the problem of those experiencing homelessness.
“We should do a better job of providing services where the amount of people coming into the homeless pipeline that more of them are going out,” Rawls said. “By that I mean finding housing etc. The things they need to be a great citizen.”
Meanwhile, Frazier wants to focus on making sure local schools provide quality education to students.
“The school system is ever changing and we don’t want any failing schools in our district and in our community,” Frazier said. “One of the things that I want to do is build an enrichment center to help our children. That enrichment center would be after school where kids can go eat and get tutored and even continue it in the summer as an ongoing educational facility.”
One thing Frazier added is that he wants to help the people of the district get employed in the Knox County system as well. Rawls said he wants to make sure that district one gets more funding from the County to help programs and places like the Knoxville Area Urban League and S.E.E.D. do more great work.
▶ See more top stories on WATE.com If you want to make your voice heard early, you’ll be able to act soon. Early voting for Knox County begins Friday, July 12.
The elections will include U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, State Senate, along with local elections for county commissioners, board of education seats and more. You’re able to early vote until July 27 and if you don’t vote in time you’ll have to wait until August 1.
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