Mike Hammond, long time radio executive and current Knox County Criminal Court Clerk, has appointed a political treasurer for his Knox County Mayoral bid. “After receiving overwhelming support during the past few months, my wife Dawn and I are taking the first step in the journey toward a potential run for Knox County Mayor. I’m excited to share that I’ve appointed Leigh Ann Carlton as my treasurer. Leigh Ann is an accomplished CPA with more than 30 years in public, corporate and small business accounting. By appointing a treasurer, this will enable our team to establish a strong financial base for a successful campaign.”
Mike Hammond, a life-long East Tennessean, is currently serving his third term as the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk and is the President of the State Court Clerks Association.
After graduation, Mike spent 35 years at WIVK, the region’s top radio station. While there, Mike led the station to three Marconi awards, eight CMA awards, and five ACM awards. Under his leadership
as news director, the station was named “the top radio news department” in the state ten times!
In 2010, Mike was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Additionally, Mike won the national Edward R. Murrow award – one of the highest honors in news – for his coverage of the tornadoes that touched down in East Tennessee in 1996.
Mike’s political career started in 2004 when he was elected to represent the County’s fifth district on the Knox County Commission. He was then elected to a full term in 2006 and four years later – after
a highly successful term – residents again picked him to serve on the board – but this time to represent the entire county as an “at-large” commissioner.
In 2014, he was elected to the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk seat. As clerk, Mike instituted a number of changes, which not only made the office more efficient, but brought in millions of dollars for Knox County. Mike and his wife Dawn share seven children, 10 grandchildren, and two fur babies, Daisy and Rosy.
