this is a Press Release that I received from Matthew Park’s campaign. I have messaged the other two candidates for Knox County Commission, Ninth District for a response. If and When I receive them, you will read it too.
Knoxville, Tenn. – 16 June 2024 – Matthew Park will not attend Tuesday, June 18th’s candidate forum in solidarity with conservative Independent candidate Stacey Bryan Smith, who was not allowed to attend.
Matthew Park had accepted the invitation to the candidate forum hosted by the Conservative Republicans of South Knox County, a group which differs from the Republican Club of South Knox County. Upon learning that Independent candidate Stacey Bryan Smith would not be allowed to attend, Park is standing firm and refusing to attend until all candidates are invited.
The withholding of the forum invitation comes shortly after members of this same group attempted to remove Mr. Smith from the ballot. These attempts are aimed at stifling the campaign and candidacy of a well-known South Knox conservative, Stacey Bryan Smith.
“Voters should be cautious of any group of people that seek to win public office by removing opponents from the ballot and hosting forums without invitations to all candidates,” said Matthew Park.
Matthew Park remains committed to upholding democratic values and ensuring that every citizen’s right to participate in the electoral process is protected.
About District 9
District 9 is the most eclectic area of Knox County. It is geographically diverse, ranging from the urbanized South Waterfront and the University of Tennessee campus in the north to the rural hills of Knox County in the south, the Seven Islands State Birding Park along the French Broad River Corridor in the east to Alcoa Highway, and the Tennessee River in the West.
About Matthew Park
Matthew Park is the Democratic nominee for Knox County Commission, District 9.
Prior to starting his career in the technology industry, Matthew was an EMT at Rural Metro (now AMR), cementing his passion for our first responders.
Matthew co-founded ChangeTN, a progressive political action committee, in 2020 with Drew Dison to advocate for progress across Tennessee and support candidates running for office. With Matthew stepping away from ChangeTN, that work continues with the ChangeTN board and officers who have been fighting for progress across Tennessee these past four years.
Matthew and his husband, Jordan, live in Island Home Park, where he is President of the Island Home Park Neighborhood Association (IHPNA). As President of IHPNA, Matthew has focused on supporting sustainable growth within the character of South Knoxville’s neighborhoods, advocating for bank preservation along the Tennessee River, and building working relationships with neighborhood partners and those investing in the community.
In his non-profit work, Matthew is Vice-President of the Two Bikes Board of Directors. Two Bikes is a non-profit based in Knoxville that focuses on promoting the benefits of bicycles, diverting bicycles from landfills, and creating youth workforce development opportunities that pay youth a living wage.
Matthew is a board member of the Friends of Downtown Island Airport (FODIA), where he continues to advocate for improved public access, STEM facilities, the creation of a public park, and reducing noise in and around Downtown Island Airport.
