Joe Knight
Republican · AL · Jefferson County Commissioner, District 4
Joe Knight has served on the Jefferson County Commission since 2010 and chairs its finance committee. He is a Trussville attorney of more than 30 years and a former nurse anesthetist, and was elected president-elect of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama in 2022.
Where Joe Knight stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (1 record), Government Efficiency (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record),
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 4 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support
Urged everyone at a county commission meeting to wear a mask to slow the spread of COVID-19, after a fellow commissioner tested positive.
July 23, 2020Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 2 support
Questioned county staff on whether federal matching funds for traffic signal upgrades were secure after the new federal administration paused programs.
February 18, 2025Supports Government Efficiency
Source: birminghamwatch.org
As finance chair, told county staff to submit federal COVID-19 relief spending items early enough for full review instead of at the last minute.
June 23, 2020Supports Government Efficiency
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 4 oppose
As finance chair, added $250,000 for upkeep of the CityWalk BHAM park to the county's $997.3 million 2027 budget, which also raised each commissioner's discretionary fund to $750,000.
September 10, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Voted in committee for a 3% raise and an extra day off for county employees; the final 2024-25 budget gave a 3.5% raise instead.
September 10, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: birminghamwatch.org
As finance chair, pressed to keep putting county money into reserve funds for emergencies and a possible recession.
March 7, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Presented the Irondale City Council a $20,000 county check toward a new city entrance sign.
November 15, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: trussvilletribune.com
Voted with Commissioners Scales and Tyson to pass the county's $700 million fiscal 2020 budget 3-2, then presented an order to overhaul how future budgets are prepared.
August 8, 2019Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Voted for a zoning resolution to step up enforcement against bingo halls in unincorporated Jefferson County; it failed on a 2-2 vote.
July 28, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
As finance chair, added $250,000 for upkeep of the CityWalk BHAM park to the county's $997.3 million 2027 budget, which also raised each commissioner's discretionary fund to $750,000.
September 10, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Proposed a commission resolution supporting completion of the Northern Beltline interstate bypass around Birmingham.
September 24, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Track record — General
General · 11 records
Voted for a sales tax rebate of up to $1 million over five years for a Publix-anchored shopping center in Kimberly; it passed with three votes.
September 24, 2026
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Warned that a proposed data center moratorium could stall development at the JeffMet McCalla industrial park.
June 23, 2026
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Voted with the commission 4-0 to deny a zoning request for parking at the former Wesley's Boobie Trap adult club site.
January 8, 2026
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Moved to delay a rezoning for a 45-home development near McAdory High School, objecting to its 50-foot-wide lots.
October 10, 2024
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Announced an agreement to turn the county-owned Hallmark Farm property near Warrior into an agriculture center run by an Alfa subsidiary.
September 14, 2023
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Was elected president pro tem of the Jefferson County Commission on a 3-0 vote, with the two Democratic commissioners abstaining.
November 16, 2022
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Wrote a column on The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, noting he served on the Games' board of directors.
July 19, 2022
Source: trussvilletribune.com
Voted for Plan 1, the new county commission district map, which passed 4-1; a federal judge threw out that map in 2025.
November 4, 2021
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Was elected vice president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, the first Jefferson County officer of the group in over 20 years.
August 31, 2021
Source: birminghamwatch.org
Won re-election to the Jefferson County Commission, District 4, defeating Tax Collector J.T. Smallwood with 62.3% of the vote.
November 6, 2018
Source: trussvilletribune.com
Voted with the 4-1 commission majority to file what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, about $4.3 billion, after talks with sewer debt creditors fell apart.
November 9, 2011
Source: abc3340.com
Past race Joe Knight ran in:
- Member, Jefferson County Commission District No. 4 · November 3, 2026 · Jefferson County, Alabama · incumbent