Commissioner Brad Anders, Glenn Jacobs, Commissioner Bob Thomas, Rhonda Gallman and Linda Haney take part in the Knox County Mayoral Debate.

BY: AMY NOLAN

The only televised Knox County Mayoral debate and the only forum to feature all five candidates for the post was hosted in April at an event created by the Knoxville Chamber.

WBIR-TV, Channel 10 televised the hour-long debate live, and Jewelry Television donated its state-of-the-art studio, as well as numerous staff, for the April 5 debate that aired from 7-8 p.m.

The Knoxville Area Association of Realtors served as sponsor.

The Knoxville Chamber’s promotion of the event and candidate profiles on KnoxCommerce.com garnered nearly 1,500-page views in the two weeks prior to the event. The studio audience included 250 people while tens of thousands more watched live on WBIR. Roughly 35,000 views were recorded on WBIR’s Facebook Live.

WBIR anchor John Becker moderated the discussion, posing questions to the candidates about education, economic development, priorities, spending and taxing.

All five candidates vying for their party’s nomination participated: Republicans Brad Anders, Glenn Jacobs and Bob Thomas, as well as Democrats Rhonda Gallman and Linda Haney.