07-02-2025
Two more candidates announce they're running for Knoxville City Council
Candidates are stepping up for the new election system for the Knoxville City Council.
The nonpartisan primary election for city council will be Aug. 26 and the general election is Nov. 4. Candidates have until May 15 to enter the race.
This election will look different. Candidates will only have to win the approval of residents in their own district, rather than voters from across the city. Experts told Knox News the new system, which was endorsed by Knoxville voters in 2024, might yield more neighborhood-focused campaigns.
Voters in Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 will choose their council members in this cycle. Elections for the District 5 seat coincide with elections for mayor, municipal judge and the three at-large seats on the other cycle. In 2027, District 5 residents will elect someone to serve two years so that in 2029, all six districts will vote together.
The newest people to enter the race are Nathan Honeycutt, who is running to represent District 2, and Nathan Ramey, who is running to represent District 3.
All of the current city council members whose seats are up are term limited. That means each race is wide open, so stay tuned to see who else will run.
Nathan Honeycutt hopes to represent West Knoxville, including the Sequoyah Hills, West Hills and Bearden neighborhoods.
Honeycutt, 45, is an architect and principal at McCarty Holsaple McCarty, the Knoxville-based firm making its home at the Sanitary Laundry Building.
'As a father, local business owner, and architect, I understand what it takes to build great communities," Honeycutt said in a release. "For years, I've been helping families and businesses build toward their dreams ‒ and our city has blessed my family and me in more ways than I can count."
Honeycutt hopes to support sustainable development, enhance greenspaces, modernize infrastructure and promote affordability, the release said.
Frank Ramey is running to represent northwest Knoxville, including the Norwood, Cumberland Estates and West Haven neighborhoods.
Ramey, 37, is an SEO and digital marketing consultant and real estate investor.
"I'm running for City Council because I want to ensure Knoxville remains a place where all children can thrive and choose to stay," Ramey's website says. "We need to focus on making our city affordable again while maintaining the safety of our neighborhoods and creating economic opportunities that will keep talented young people here after graduation."
Ramey wants to advocate for property tax relief programs, lead a safety upgrade for Western Avenue, implement a policy requiring developers to hold community meetings before major projects and secure funding for "better servicing of public trash cans," according to his website.
In 2024, two candidates took initial steps to run for council.
Karyn Adams hopes to represent South Knoxville and the Fort Sanders neighborhood.
Adams, 52, is principal and creative director for H·A ThirtyOne, a higher education-focused marketing and communications company that supports the recruitment and communication strategies for colleges and universities in the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast.
Matthew DeBardelaben is running to represent northeast Knoxville, including the Alice Bell and Fountain City neighborhoods.
DeBardelaben, 52, is an estate broker with Avison Young, a commercial real estate agency, and an activist with the American Institute of Architects. He's on the Knoxville Downtown Alliance board and Knoxville's design review board, a branch of the planning commission.
Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Four candidates are running for Knoxville City Council (so far)
