Garrett Holt announces bid for Knox County commissioner, pledges infrastructure fixes and low taxes
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Summary
Garrett Holt, a candidate for Knox County commissioner at-large Seat 11, released a video outlining three priorities — traffic and infrastructure, keeping taxes low, and listening to residents — and urged voters to use early voting beginning April 15 ahead of the May 5 Republican primary.
Garrett Holt, a candidate for Knox County commissioner at-large Seat 11, announced his campaign in a video message and laid out three central priorities: traffic and infrastructure, preserving a low tax burden, and closer constituent listening.
Holt said the county must "be proactive and not reactive" as it handles rapid population growth. "First and foremost, traffic and infrastructure," he said, urging "better signal timing, roundabouts where it's strategic, widening roads, and advocating for the state for infrastructure investment here in Knox County." Holt asserted Knox County has been "the second highest growth county out of all 95 counties in Tennessee the last few years," and described that growth as outpacing Nashville and Memphis.
On taxes, Holt said he wants to "keep Knox County one of the least taxed communities in the state of Tennessee." He cited a county ranking of "sixtieth out of 95 counties in terms of our overall tax rate" and said protecting affordability requires "intelligent budgeting" and "comprehensive audits" to ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent.
Holt framed listening to voters as the third priority. "My job...is public service to you, the voter, the taxpayer, the constituent," he said, and promised to "work tirelessly day in and day out" if elected.
He described his local roots and qualifications: a graduate of West High School, a University of Tennessee accounting degree, a career in public accounting and health care sales, work building a real-estate business, and current attendance at Lincoln Memorial University medical school. Holt also said he has served on the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals and currently sits on the Knoxville Public Building Authority.
Holt asked for support in the Republican primary on May 5 and reminded viewers that early voting begins April 15. He closed the message by thanking viewers and signing off as Garrett Holt.
The statements about county growth and tax rankings were made by Holt in the video; the campaign provided those figures as part of his remarks and the transcript does not include independent verification.
