All seven candidates running for Knoxville City Council will participate in a nonpartisan Candidate Forum organized by the League of Women Voters of Knoxville and Knox County. The League will hold the Forum on October 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Cansler Family YMCA.

The following candidates are participating in the Forum:

  • District 1: Nick Pavlis (unopposed)
  • District 2: Duane Grieve (unopposed)
  • District 3: Brenda Palmer (unopposed)
  • District 4: Rick Staples and Nick Della Volpe
  • District 6: Daniel T. Brown and Pete Drew 

WBIR’s John Becker will moderate the Forum, following League of Women Voter guidelines.  Students and Scholars from the UT Baker Center’s Living and Learning Community will serve as volunteers at the Forum.

The Cansler Y is located at 616 Jessamine Street, which attendees can easily access from Interstate 40 or by KAT bus. There is ample parking in the parking lot between the YMCA and the O’Connor Senior Center.

Responding to concerns of candidates in recent election cycles about the increasing numbers of candidate forums with low attendance, the League has worked with city and neighborhood groups in organizing for this nonpartisan Candidate Forum on October 14. Groups with members who will encourage citizen participation in this city election and forum include Parkridge Community Organization, South Knoxville Neighborhood and Business Coalition, Forest Heights Neighborhood Association, Pond Gap Neighborhood Association, and the Fairmont/Emoriland Neighborhood Association. We anticipate that additional groups will still join in.

The League of Women Voters of Knoxville and Knox County, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.  The League posts their calendar of activities at lwvknoxville.org/calendar.html. For more information, visitwww.lwvknoxville.orgwww.facebook.com/lwvknoxville, or email league@lwvknoxville.org.