I am running for the hard working people all across Knox County who have reached out and expressed their confidence in my abilities and asked me to step forward.
They know that I have spent the last 15 years advocating on behalf of communities countywide as both a citizen and a countywide Knox County Commissioner to bring attention to the impacts of growth and development on infrastructure needs like roads, schools, emergency services, AND our overall quality of life.
I started this work as a citizen advocate, I turned it into policy as a Countywide Commissioner, and I’m ready to continue to put communities first as your next Mayor and work hard to take care of what we have – our roads, schools, parks, officers and people.
My experience and knowledge as a proven, engaged, effective healthcare executive, global human resources director, small business owner, community advocate and Countywide Commissioner have prepared me to lead Knox County through our challenges and to embrace our opportunities.
The County Mayor is the Chief Executive of Knox County, responsible for ensuring essential services like roads, schools, public safety, emergency response, public health, and county operations run efficiently and responsibly. The Mayor must be a careful steward of taxpayer dollars, plan for intentional growth, oversee budgets and departments, and communicate transparently. Most importantly, the Mayor must listen, engage communities, and put people first in every decision.
I bring proven experience as a business professional, community advocate, and countywide commissioner, all roles that taught me how to listen, collaborate, and turn community needs into real results. I understand how decisions impact families across Knox County, and I’ve led major efforts like updating long-outdated growth and land-use policies. I’m accountable, transparent, and people-focused, with a leadership style grounded in integrity, hard work, and putting communities first.
Intentional growth with coordinated infrastructure.
Strengthening essential public services.
Fiscal discipline ensuring that Knox County is a responsible steward of tax dollars.
I want voters to know I’ve spent 15 years fighting for communities across Knox County as both a citizen advocate and a countywide commissioner. I led major reforms to modernize growth and land-use policies, giving me the deepest experience on growth, infrastructure, and quality-of-life issues. My only allegiance is to the people, not political insiders. I’m a listener, a collaborator, and a proven problem-solver. I show up, work hard, and get results and I’m ready to lead on day one.
I’m running for Knox County Mayor because too many people feel like the Knox County government isn’t working for them anymore. Housing costs are rising, traffic and infrastructure challenges are growing, and working families are being squeezed while the same political insiders keep making the decisions. As an ironworker and labor leader, I’ve spent my career standing up for working people and building coalitions to get real results. I’m running to bring that same focus to county government—tackling the housing shortage, investing in infrastructure and public services, strengthening our workforce, and restoring transparency and accountability so Knox County works for the people who live and work here.
As president of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Central Labor Council, I wake up every day to fight for the thousands of union workers who make our community run: from postal workers to cashiers to welders to musicians in the symphony. My leadership, representing over 30 local unions, has given me great insight into the challenges facing workers across our community. I’m ready to take them on as our next County Mayor – whether it’s working to attract jobs with more competitive wages, fighting for more housing options working families can actually afford, or taking a new and more transparent approach to how county government works. My campaign is about building a local government by and for the working people who make this Knox County run.
The County Mayor’s core responsibility is to manage county government effectively so residents receive reliable services and taxpayer dollars are used wisely. This includes preparing and administering the county budget, overseeing departments and employees, and ensuring essential services like infrastructure, public safety support, and emergency response operate efficiently. The mayor must also coordinate with County Commission and local partners to plan for growth so infrastructure keeps pace with development. Just as important is leading with transparency and accountability so residents can trust their government is working in the public interest.
I bring the perspective of someone who has spent their entire career advocating for working people and building coalitions to solve real problems. As President of the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Central Labor Council, I represent more than 30 unions and thousands of workers across many industries. That role requires listening to different viewpoints, building consensus, and negotiating solutions that move our community forward. My experience as an ironworker and labor leader has taught me the importance of preparation, accountability, and follow-through. I believe leadership means being accessible, making decisions transparently, and focusing on practical results that earn the public’s trust.
My top priorities are housing affordability, strong infrastructure and public services, and a stronger local economy for working families. Knox County faces a housing shortage that is pushing residents out of their communities, and I will support policies that encourage the development of housing people can actually afford while ensuring growth is planned responsibly. I will also prioritize investments in roads, transportation, and emergency services so infrastructure keeps pace with our growing population. Finally, I will focus on workforce development and vocational training to attract good-paying jobs and help working families build stable lives in Knox County.
I’m running because Knox County should work for the people who live and work here—not just the well-connected. I was raised by a single mother who worked hard to support our family, and that experience shaped my lifelong commitment to standing up for working families. As an ironworker and labor leader, I’ve fought to connect people with good-paying jobs and real opportunity. As County Mayor, I’ll focus on affordable housing, responsible planning for growth, strong public services, and transparent government. My goal is simple: make Knox County a place where families can afford to stay, workers can succeed, and residents know their government is on their side.
Knox County is at a crossroads. With a county budget of more than $1.1 billion, we have the resources to provide good roads, strong public safety, and world class schools. We need to continue to have executive leadership that will prioritize wisely, control spending, and protect taxpayers.
I am running for mayor to stop a tax increase, end reckless uncontrolled growth, ensure good roads and world class schools, and deliver real results for the hardworking families. I believe in the simple principle: when government gets out of the way, families and communities thrive.
I would be honored to earn your support, and I invite you to learn more at www.BetsyHenderson.com.
As chair of the third largest school district in Tennessee, I worked to reduce bureaucracy, invest directly in classrooms, and focus on results. We improved outcomes while demanding accountability. That experience matters.
The results speak for themselves. Knox County Schools has been recognized by the state as an “Advancing” district, 18 schools earned the state’s top designation, and student performance has improved across tested subjects.
Earlier in my career, I worked in Washington, DC for Congressman Jimmy Duncan shortly after September 11. I also grew up in a family of small business owners, which showed me the grit and determination to get things done. Together, these experiences have prepared me to lead and serve Knox County.
The mayor’s most important responsibility is to ensure county government focuses on its core functions and uses taxpayer dollars wisely.
That means maintaining safe communities through strong support for law enforcement, investing in infrastructure like roads, supporting world class schools, and making sure government lives within its means. Knox County has a budget of more than a billion dollars, so the responsibility of the mayor is to prioritize wisely and ensure those resources are used effectively.
The mayor should also be a visible leader who listens to residents and brings people together to solve problems while protecting the values that make our community strong.
Leadership is not about speeches; it is about making the right decisions when it matters most.
Throughout my time on the School Board, I have demonstrated that I will stand firm in difficult moments and put families first. During the pandemic, I stood with parents to keep schools open and stop mandates. When the Mayor of Knoxville wanted to remove police from our school, I led the fight to keep police in our schools.
I also believe successful leaders must listen. I spend time meeting with people across Knox County because those conversations shape better decisions.
Most importantly, I bring a clear set of conservative principles, fiscal discipline, and a commitment to always put the needs of Knox County families first.
I believe when everything is a priority, nothing is. As mayor of Knox County, my priorities are clear:
1) Government will live within its means, and I will not raise taxes.
2) Protect our community from reckless, unchecked development.
3) Support our neighborhoods with world-class schools, strong public safety and good roads.
You can read my Crossroads plan at https://www.betsyhenderson.com/issues.
As your mayor, my commitment is simple: I will always put the needs of your family first.
First, I am a proven conservative leader who will not raise taxes. Knox County has a billion-dollar budget, and with responsible leadership we can fund roads, schools, and public safety without asking families to pay more.
Second, I have experience delivering real results. As Chair of the Knox County School Board, I led one of the largest school districts in Tennessee, focusing on accountability, investing in teachers, and improving student outcomes.
Third, I will protect the values and quality of life that make East Tennessee special. That means supporting strong public safety, fixing our roads, and stopping reckless growth.
Knox County is at a crossroads, and I’m providing a clear, conservative path forward that puts families first.
There's no better time to serve, and no more critical period in Knox County's history than right now. As our community grows and challenges arise, we need a common-sense Mayor with the experience, education and the willingness to chart a bold vision for the future. I'm running to serve as the next Knox County Mayor because I believe in public service and remain committed to my country and community. I want our kids and grandkids to be able to live here, but that will only come with steadfast, honest and accountable leadership. After a lifetime of hard work, twenty years of executive leadership experience, and eight years as an at-large Commissioner, I'm ready to lead Knox County with decisions that set the stage for the coming decades.
My professional background includes diverse experiences in private- sector business, nonprofit organizations and government services. I've worked hard every day since my first job at age 13, and throughout my many careers, I've managed multi-million dollar budgets, large teams, and delivered ambitious projects. I've been an entertainment producer, founder of a national nonprofit (Random Acts of Flowers), small business owner, and member of a 100 year-old family manufacturing business. After nearly 40 years of work and 20 years of executive leadership experience, I've gained the skills needed to handle the day-to-day responsibilities of the Knox County Mayor while working through any crisis that might arise.
The responsibilities for the Knox County Mayor are similar to one of a company's President or CEO. First and foremost, the Mayor is the Chief Financial Officer responsible for the management, oversight and investment of the taxpayer's fund and the $1.2B annual budget. In addition to being a good fiscal manager, the Mayor is responsible for leading the 12,000+ employees across all departments. And finally, the Knox County Mayor works closely with the legislators on Commission to make laws and manage regulation that keeps our community safe, healthy and moving in the right direction.
I bring qualities to the County Mayor position that are crucial to success and quality leadership: honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability. I believe the community should demand nothing less of its elected leaders. I take very seriously the role and responsibility placed in me by the citizens and promise to bring rational and thoughtful common-sense leadership to everything I do. As a servant leader, my commitment is to the over 500,000 people I report to every day, and as the next Knox County Mayor, I'll remain focused on doing everything I can to be helpful to as many people as possible.
My priorities as the next Knox County Mayor are clear and focused.
The first priority I'll focus on is fixing our roads and finding ways to reduce traffic and congestion. Good infrastructure and the management of moving people, goods and services in an efficient manner is the key to a healthy economy and high quality of life.
My second priority is to ensure our neighborhoods are safe by investing in our law enforcement professionals. If Knox County properly pays, equips and empowers our Sheriff's Deputies they will keep our residents safe and reduce crime.
As the next Knox County Mayor, my third priority will be to fully fund and support our public school system. I believe there's no better investment than in education.
I'd like the voters of Knox County to see past the political redoric and think about this race like you would your own family business. People will be selecting the CEO of thier government, the billion-dollar company they own, which provides five basic services every day (education, safety, infrastructure, health & economic development). When someone considers who is the best educated, most experienced, best prepared leader to run their company, I believe my credentials, and my accomplishments as a Commissioner, stand out above the rest. There's no candidate who will work harder, show up more, and deliver honest, ethical and accountable leadership than I will. My focus will always be to the people of Knox County.
