Knox County Mayor-elect Betsy Henderson has hired Evan Newman, a South Carolina campaign operative, to be her chief of staff when she takes over Sept. 1. Former Knox County school board chair Doug Harris will be Henderson's chief operating officer, and Chris Caldwell – the chief financial officer to Mayor Glenn Jacobs – is staying on.
"All three bring strong experience, sound judgment, and a commitment to public service," Henderson said. "Most importantly, they understand that our job is to serve the people of Knox County,”
Newman has been the director for theState Freedom Caucus Network, an extension of the House Freedom Caucus in Congress, that seeks to "help establish State Freedom Caucuses and provide the high-level staff, strategy and community
conservatives need to take ground across the country," according to its website.
Newman also was the executive director of the South Carolina Club for Growth. He recently ran U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman's 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial campaign.
Newman, who attended Bob Jones University, has extensive campaign experience. He is the general consultant to Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis' campaign and was a field director for John Warren's 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial campaign. He also was the outreach director for U.S. Rep. William Timmons' district office from 2021-2022.
The chief of staff is a strategically important person who turns a vision into reality. They serve as a liaison with other elected officials and community members. They play a major role in setting the county's budget priorities and implementing policies.
"Countless times, (Evan) has helped me navigate turbulent waters and advocate for law enforcement," Lewis said in a media release from Henderson. "His contributions to Greenville are invaluable, and Knox County is lucky to have him."
Harris, who will manage operations across departments and build on successes as chief operating officer, is the president of both Harris Enterprise Group LLC and TivaWater, a nonprofit that manufactures and distributes household water filters. He served on the Knox County school board from 2012-2016. He endorsed Henderson in the GOP primary for mayor.
“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," Henderson said. "Building the right team is an important first step in keeping that promise."
Caldwell has served as CFO since 2012, according to a release form Henderson, and has been named the Public Administrator of the Year by the American Society for Public Administration.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Mayor-elect Betsy Henderson taps leaders to bring vision to life
