August 15 EKBPA Meeting Recap: District 6 Candidate Forum
The East Knoxville Business & Professional Association (EKBPA) held a powerful and impactful meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2025, at the historic Jacobs Building. This special session featured our much-anticipated District 6 City Council Candidate Forum, which gave our members and neighbors an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates running to represent our community.
Candidates Present:
- Charles Frazier
- Denzel Grant
- Stan Johnson
- George “Cat Dad” Raudenbush
- Lawrence “Man” Williams
Frazier
Grant
Johnson
Williams
Moderator:
- Damon Rawls, Knox County District 1 Commissioner, skillfully moderated the forum and led a thoughtful discussion around key issues impacting East Knoxville.
Breakfast Sponsor:
Special thanks to The Muse & Real Good Kitchen for providing a delicious breakfast spread for our guests.
Key Discussion Topics
Each candidate was asked a series of questions submitted by our EKBPA board and active members, ranging from public safety and business development to infrastructure and the future of key landmarks like the Knoxville Expo Center and Chilhowee Park. The conversation was insightful and focused on pragmatic solutions to real challenges.
Notably, several candidates addressed:
- Strategies for increasing civic engagement and voter turnout
- Approaches to attracting and supporting small businesses in East Knoxville
- Vision for preserving and revitalizing cultural and historical landmarks
- Collaborating with local organizations to enhance community development
Civic Engagement Reminder
This event took place on the final day of Early Voting, serving as the last public forum before Election Day on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. With over 200,000 residents in our area and fewer than 100,000 registered to vote, our engagement truly matters.
We strongly encourage our members to make their voices heard at the polls.
Thank You
Thank you to all the candidates, attendees, and community partners who made this event a success. We also thank our board and volunteers who helped facilitate the forum and ensured it was a welcoming, informative space.
Stay Connected
Our next meeting will be held Thursday, September 19, 2025. Details coming soon!
#EKBPA #EastKnoxville #District6Forum #CivicEngagement #KnoxvilleVotes #CommunityMatters #GetOutTheVote
Here are a few public pictures…
31 More Photos from the event are available in the members-only section below. Please log in to see behind-the-scenes moments and catch up on anything you missed.