Debbie Helsley challenges Janet Testerman for City Council seat | Victor Ashe

Debbie Helsley announced her candidacy Jan. 2 for At-Large City Council Seat B, now held by Janet Testerman.

Helsley’s treasurer is Shane Archer, who owns Grow, a hair salon on Kingston Pike. He lives in South Knoxville and was among Knox News’ 40 Under 40 local leaders.

Testerman, when contacted, said she has not decided if she will seek a second term on City Council. She lost a race for GOP nominee for state representative last August to Elaine Davis.

Helsley, a Democrat, ran a surprisingly strong race for county mayor in the August general election and won inside the city with 61% of the vote over Republican Glenn Jacobs.

Helsley served 10 years on the city Civil Service Board, including several years as chair. She has served on the United Way Board and was president for 10 years of the Communications Workers of America, Local 3805. She is the founder of South Woodlawn Neighborhood Association.

A Helsley-Testerman race would be vigorously contested citywide. The primary is Aug. 29.

Helsley has a website at DebbieforKnoxville.com. On it, she says she is for green space and a clean environment, which have been advocated by Mayor Indya Kincannon.

Helsley also says she will “fight for transparency in local government.” She does not address the natural question of whether searches for filling city positions such as police chief should be fully transparent or if keeping the list of applicants confidential, as Kincannon has done, is acceptable. Just placing transparency on her website, which is not in the mayor’s campaign material, suggests it may be an issue.

Kincannon could face a deposition on this issue in the next two months because of a lawsuit by Knox News against the city.

In another council At-Large bid, Matthew Best and Tim Hill have announced they will challenge Amelia Parker for Seat C.

Matt Shears’ term as chair of the Knox Democrats ends in March. He has said he is inclined to seek another two-year term but has not made a final decision.

Shears, 29, receives rave reviews among Democrats for his work in the field and respect from envious GOP leaders who grudgingly acknowledge his talent and winning personality.

Knox County Commissioner Kyle Ward, 37, announced he would not seek the GOP chairmanship or seek a second term on the County Commission. Retired police officer Keith Lyon says he will seek the chair at the Feb. 18 countywide GOP meeting. Whether others will run is unclear. Current chair Daniel Herrera is stepping away from the position.

Lyon has also been considering a run for city mayor this year and when contacted last week did not rule it out if he is elected GOP chair. He was critical of the KPD decision to stop responding to minor motor vehicle crashes.

Ward's west Knox County commission seat will be vigorously contested in 2024. Several Republican leaders are encouraging Garrett Holt, 29, to seek the GOP nomination. Other Republicans may run, too. Holt won 45% citywide for City Council last year, losing to incumbent Gwen McKenzie. Holt recently moved into this district and now lives outside the city.

Democrats will field a viable candidate as this district overlaps the district in which Democrat Katherine Bike won her school board seat in August.

Councilman Charlie Thomas is up for reelection for a Knoxville city council seat with no current announced opposition. His district often has only one candidate.

City Judge John Rosson, 75, is running for his 11th four-year term. Rosson, if elected, will be 80 when his next term ends. He seldom has an opponent and is often present at city gatherings.

Kincannon will cut the ribbon at 4 p.m. Thursday at the new park at 411 Highland Park Drive in Bearden. Vice Mayor Andrew Roberto will attend.

Birthdays

Jan. 12: Attorney John Neal is 69. Chris E. Barksdale is 42. Carol Montgomery is 74. Dr. Bill Sullivan is 82. Anna Corcoran is 43.

Jan. 13: Dan Hurst is 61. Former county parks director Doug Bataille is 65. KUB Commissioner Adrienne Simpson-Brown is 53.

Jan. 14: William J. Ellis is 63. White Realty VP David Mink is 63.

Jan. 15: Ron H. Feinbaum is 58. Terry Alexander is 67. Blake Gibson is 34. Lloyd Aldridge is 74. Former Democratic congressional candidate Renee Hoyos is 58. Chris Blue is 33. Christine Griffin is 80.

Jan. 16: Former U.S. Rep. Diane Black is 72. Leslie Testerman is 93. Attorney Robert Marquis is 80. Former County Commissioner Robert Bratton is 60. Wayne Christensen is 77. Eric Williams is 33.

Jan. 17: Former first lady Michelle Obama is 59. Butch Jones is 55. Ross Bagwell Sr. is 91. Thomas Vester III is 63. Sean Driscoll is 75. School board member Mike McMillan is 73. Madeline Griffey is 34.

Jan. 18: City Police Chief Paul Noel is 47. Former city councilwoman Carlene Malone is 78. Caroline Trotter is 28. Maribel Koella is 75. Jean Bonnyman is 60. City Councilwoman Janet Testerman is 54.

Victor Ashe is a former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland. He is a columnist for Shopper News. 

Knox News and Shopper News promptly correct all errors. If you think we have published incorrect information, please email accuracy@knoxnews.com. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number or the URL.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Debbie Helsley joins Knoxville City Council challengers | Ashe