Mayor Kincannon Begins Second Term

On Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, Indya Kincannon was sworn in at the City County Building and officially began her second term as Knoxville's 69th Mayor. 

City Council incumbents Charles Thomas (5th District), Lynne Fugate (At-large Seat A) and Amelia Parker (At-large Seat C) were also sworn in for their second terms. New Council member Debbie Helsley (At Large Seat B) begins her first term, and Tyler Caviness was sworn in as Knoxville’s first new City Court Judge in 37 years. 

The new City Council met briefly and selected Council members Tommy Smith as Vice Mayor, Lauren Rider as Beer Board Chair, and Helsley as Council’s Knoxville Transportation Authority representative. 

“Thanks to the people of Knoxville, I have another 1,460 days to keep moving us toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable future,” Mayor Kincannon told a joyful crowd of 400. 

Kincannon touted huge strides in public safety and historic investments in affordable housing in her first four years: Police officers were equipped with body cameras, and homicides are down nearly 35 percent. The City’s $50 million Affordable Housing Fund was established, and City investment has leveraged $600 million in private investment in affordable housing. 

The Mayor laid out four priorities that will remain steadfast for the next four years. 

“We will work to make all Knoxvillians safe,” Kincannon said. “We will introduce innovative solutions to the housing crisis. We will create great public spaces that bring neighbors together. And, we will build a Knoxville where everyone can thrive.” 

In addition to continued progress on public safety and housing, Kincannon’s second-term agenda includes: 

• Vision Zero: The City will implement proactive, data-informed strategies and design changes that will make commuting safer for everyone – motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The goal is eliminating traffic fatalities on City streets by 2040.
 
• Great public spaces: In the next four years, anticipate new housing and other development around the historic St. Mary’s campus, a transformation of Western Heights, redevelopment of the McClung Warehouses site, new City and private investment along the Magnolia Avenue corridor, and the first pitch thrown in 2025 at the new East Knoxville multi-use stadium. 

• Brilliant at the Basics: Residents rely on dependable City services to assure a high quality of life, Kincannon said. It’s not something City employees take for granted. 

“We will make sure our streets are paved, our traffic signals modernized, our sidewalks maintained, and our trash picked up,” the Mayor said. “We will find a long-term solution to our aging stormwater infrastructure.”