Vivian Shipe, a longtime community advocate and nonprofit leader, is running for an open citywide seat on the Knoxville City Council in 2027.
Shipe announcedSept. 3 she's running to replace term-limited Councilmember Amelia Parker. Shipe and Parker are ideologically aligned and both are involved with the Knoxville City Council Movement, a group that supports progressive candidates who want to push back against the political establishment and advocate for councilmembers to have more influence in budgeting.
"We are going to be running again," Shipe said. "I do believe that we are better together. As your representative, after serving 50 years in the community, I do believe we have the opportunity to make some changes."
Shipe lost her bid for the
Knox County Commission this year.
No other candidates have announced they're running for Parker's seat. The city council is made up of six district-level representatives and three citywide representatives. District-level councilmembers are elected only by voters who live in their geographical districts, while the whole city votes on at-large councilmembers. Candidates can choose the at-large seat they want to run for.
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Ellen Zavisca, a community planning advocate,announced Aug. 31 she's running for a different citywide seat held by term-limited Councilmember Lynne Fugate. William Mendoza-Euceda, a member of the county's Democratic political scene who successfully managed Councilmember Denzel Grant's campaign, told Knox News he's considering running for an at-large seat as well.
Mendoza-Euceda told Knox News he wouldn't run against incumbent Debbie Helsley, which means he would face either Shipe or Zavisca.
Shiperan for an at-large seaton the Knox County Commission as a Democrat in 2022 and 2026. She lost both times to her Republican opponent. In her campaigns, she emphasized mental health, housing, education and community input.
Shipe is the founder of I AM The Voice of the Voiceless nonprofit.
The 2027 primary election is Aug. 31 and the general election is Nov. 2.
In addition to three citywide council seats, Knoxville voters will choose a new mayor, the District 5 councilmember and the municipal judge.
Voters also will weigh in on a proposed change that would eliminate the need for a runoff race for city council seats if one candidate gets 50% + 1 vote in primary elections after 2027.
Knox Newsexclusively reported Sept. 2mortgage banker Jeff Talman, who has unsuccessfully run for mayor and city council, is running to succeed term-limited Mayor Indya Kincannon.
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: Community advocate Vivian Shipe is running for Knoxville City Council
