County Commission At-Large, Seat 11
August 6, 2026 · Knox County, Tennessee · County · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 11 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 494,148 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(919,173 ÷ 494,148) ÷ ln(919,173 ÷ 5,079) = 11.94, comparing counties in TN (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
County Commissioner is responsible for:
- Passing county rules and the county budget
- Setting property tax rates that fund county services
- Overseeing county departments such as roads, parks, and public health
- Deciding land use in areas outside city limits
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
David Velarde
Independent · declared
Dr. David Velarde is the independent candidate for Knox County Commission At-Large Seat 11. Contemporary local election coverage identifies him as a political newcomer; his campaign did not respond to repeated interview requests.
Garrett Holt
Republican · declared
Garrett Holt is the Republican nominee for Knox County Commission At-Large Seat 11. He is the county-appointed treasurer of the Public Building Authority of Knox County and Knoxville, previously served on the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals, and operates a Knoxville real-estate investment business.
Vivian Underwood Shipe
Democratic · declared
Vivian Underwood Shipe is the Democratic candidate for Knox County Commission At-Large Seat 11. She is a longtime advocate and nonprofit leader, founded I Am the Voice of the Voiceless Inc., and previously worked for the U.S. Postal Service and led its local union shop.
Election sources
Source: knoxcounty.org
Source: knoxcounty.org