William Cooper announces run for Knox County Commission District 7, pledges local focus and civility

William Cooper announced he is running for Knox County Commission District 7 in a recorded campaign statement, saying he will "put civility back into local politics" and focus on local priorities rather than national issues.

Cooper, who said he was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, outlined his background in the record industry, saying he organized careers and managed projects and secured what he described as a six‑figure deal. He noted he has been married 23 years and has a six‑year‑old daughter.

"I'm running to put civility back into local politics, to focus on local issues and not national agendas," Cooper said, framing his candidacy as a response to longtime career politicians. He described himself as "not the conventional candidate" and said small business experience and an everyday perspective could bring "fresh eyes" to District 7.

Cooper criticized what he called a revolving door of career officials in District 7 and alleged his opponent is "fully backed by [an] extreme coalition" that seeks to advance national priorities in local government. He named Betsy Henderson and Andy Fox as political influences he opposes and said their style "focus[es] only on issues that don't fix roads and don't fund our schools." He also criticized support for private school vouchers.

"Numbers — people matter more," Cooper said, arguing that running the county "like a business" risks overlooking human costs.

He promised constituent responsiveness, saying, "My door will always be open to the citizens of District 7," and pledged not to pursue "personal agendas that discriminate and divide." Cooper added he would not vote for measures that he believes are opposed by the majority of the county.

Cooper closed with a direct appeal for votes and grassroots outreach. "I humbly ask for your vote and for you to get 10 more people to vote," he said, and thanked listeners for their time.