Brent Gibson wins Knox County sheriff election. Here are his visions and main priorities
Gibson defeated David Amburn, Mike Davis and Jimmy “J.J.” Jones in May’s primary election to be the Republican candidate on the ballot for the general election.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Republican candidate Brent Gibson has officially won the Knox County sheriff race after winning the primary election in May. There were no Democrat candidates on the ballot for Thursday’s general election.
Gibson spent 25 years with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, joining in 1999 and retiring in 2024. He has held several positions with KCSO, including sergeant, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief deputy. He also served as a member of KCSO’s SWAT team for nearly two decades before his retirement.
Gibson said prior to the election that his vision is to “give citizens the leadership they deserve, rooted in accountability, trust, and conservative values.”
He has several priorities, including departmental transparency, fiscal responsibility, school safety, public engagement and recruitment and retention.
Gibson said he plans to execute these priorities by fostering trust, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely, prioritizing children and staff safety in every Knox County school, having deputies build relationships in neighborhoods and attracting highly-qualified officers and creating an environment that keeps them in Knox County.
His election comes at a tumultuous time for the sheriff’s office, which includes current-sheriff Tom Spangler battling pancreatic cancer and 11 current and former staff being charged after a years-long investigation into a major theft case. Among those charged are David Amburn and Jimmy “J.J” Jones, two of Gibson’s opponents in May’s primary election. The next motion date for that case is scheduled for Aug. 17.
Gibson ran unopposed in the Aug. 6 general election.
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