Mayor-elect Betsy Henderson has announced her senior leadership team.
“I am proud to announce Doug Harris as Chief Operating Officer, Evan Newman as my Chief of Staff, and that Chris Caldwell will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer. All three bring strong experience, sound judgment, and a commitment to public service. Most importantly, they understand that our job is to serve the people of Knox County,” said Mayor-elect Betsy Henderson.
Henderson continued, “Throughout the campaign, I promised that county government would focus on its core responsibilities, respect taxpayers, and always put the needs of Knox County families first. Building the right team is an important first step in keeping that promise.
Mayor Jacobs and his administration have provided us with a strong foundation. Our team is committed to building on that foundation as we are relentlessly focused on serving the people of Knox County.”
Doug Harris
Doug Harris is a results driven business and community leader with more than 30 years of experience launching and operating large scale organizations, managing complex financial, budgeting, marketing, human resources, and operational functions. A Knoxville native, Harris has spent more than 25 years
serving on community nonprofit boards, including as Chair of the Knox County Board of Education. For the past 18 years, he has also helped develop businesses and charitable initiatives in Uganda focused on entrepreneurship, clean water, agriculture, health care, and support for children and families. These efforts have created opportunities for local entrepreneurs and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
Evan Newman
Evan Newman brings extensive experience in government, public policy, communications, advocacy, and organizational leadership. Evan has worked to support community focused leaders throughout his career. His experience includes congressional service, serving as a State Director for the State Freedom Caucus Network, political consulting, and personnel management. Most recently, he served as Campaign Manager for Congressman Ralph Norman’s campaign for Governor. Newman has a strong record of building relationships, bringing people together, and turning priorities into results.
Former clients and colleagues of Newman said the following:
“Evan served as my chief outside advisor before and during my tenure as sheriff. Countless times he’s helped me navigate turbulent political waters and advocate for law enforcement. His contributions to Greenville are invaluable, and Knox County is lucky to have him,” Greenville County Sheriff, Hobart Lewis.
“There is no one who has devoted more time and energy to reading, analyzing, and truly understanding legislation than Evan Newman. But Evan’s impact goes far beyond policy. His ability to build relationships, break down complicated issues, communicate them effectively, and continually listen and learn has made him an invaluable part of our conservative movement. Those qualities make him an outstanding choice to serve as Chief of Staff to Mayor-elect Henderson. They are gaining an incredibly talented, thoughtful, and hardworking leader,” Representative April Cromer.
Chris Caldwell
Chris Caldwell has served as Chief Financial Officer for Knox County Government since 2012. In his role, he oversees the County’s budget and financial operations, bringing more than a decade of experience and institutional knowledge to the position. Prior to becoming CFO, Caldwell served as Accounting and Budget Director for the Knox County Finance Department. Caldwell is active in numerous community and professional organizations and has been recognized for his leadership in public service, including being named Public Administrator of the Year by the American Society for Public Administration.
