B

Leo Shalhoup says his decision to run for county commission grew out of frustration with what he describes as years of unnecessary spending and rising taxes in Hamblen County.

Shalhoup, who has been married for 15 years, is the father of four children and a grandfather to eleven. He says his interest in local government is rooted in concern for the future his family and other residents will inherit.

“It’s past time for common sense government,” he said.

Shalhoup believes recent decisions by the county commission have placed too much financial pressure on residents, particularly those living on fixed incomes. He points to property tax increases approved in both 2020 and 2025 by a majority of current commissioners.

According to Shalhoup, the most recent increase raised the property tax rate by 25 cents per $100 of assessed property value. For many residents, he said, that change has translated into noticeable increases when they visit the trustee’s office to pay their annual bill.

“Some people are paying four hundred to fifteen hundred dollars more,” he said. “That’s difficult for elderly people on fixed incomes.”

Shalhoup also criticized the decision made in August 2023 to increase the county’s wheel tax to $50. He said that rate now stands higher than many surrounding counties, with several nearby counties not imposing a wheel tax at all.

“We need to elect officials who prioritize responsible budgeting and spending of our tax money,” he said.

Instead of relying heavily on property taxes and wheel taxes, Shalhoup believes the county should explore other revenue sources. One idea he supports is implementing a small local sales tax.

He argues that Morristown serves as a regional hub, bringing visitors from surrounding counties who use local services, shop in local stores, and benefit from county resources.

“We are adding so many more services and surrounding counties come to Morristown for them,” Shalhoup said. “We could be making the tax revenue needed from a sales tax instead of stressing our own citizens through property tax increases.”

Encouraging economic development is another approach he believes would help the county grow without increasing the tax burden on residents. Shalhoup said attracting larger employers with higher wages would strengthen the local economy and generate additional revenue naturally.

“Encouraging economic development by bringing in larger employers that offer greater wages is a better alternative,” he said.

Shalhoup frequently frames his campaign around the idea that government should operate with the efficiency and accountability of a business.

“Government is supposed to be for the people, by the people,” he said. “But right now it feels like we’re working for the government.”

One example he cites is county spending on equipment and services. Shalhoup questioned the purchase of armed garbage trucks. The trucks require less sanitation workers to run.

“They say they can’t get people to staff the current ones,” he said. “Pay them a living wage and they’ll work. Why would they work for barely above poverty level pay? They could have used the money it cost to purchase those expensive trucks to increase salaries.”

He also believes the county should consider developing more in-house capabilities to reduce costs over time. Shalhoup points to other counties that operate their own asphalt plants rather than contracting road work externally.

“Other counties have their own asphalt plant,” he said. “Why are we giving our money to outside businesses? We should work to be more self sufficient in the future.”

Road construction and drainage issues are another concern he frequently hears from residents. Shalhoup said repeated paving projects can sometimes create water runoff problems that affect nearby neighborhoods.

“We’re paving the same roads over and over and creating drainage issues,” he said.

He says his own experience with a flooding problem in his neighborhood ultimately motivated him to enter the race. When he contacted officials about the issue, Shalhoup said he was told there was little the county could do.

“My opponent finally told me ‘There’s nothing I can do,” Shalhoup said. “My advice is to sue the county.’”

Shalhoup said that moment convinced him to become more involved in local government.

“That’s when I decided to run,” he said. “I want to make a difference.”

Transparency and citizen involvement are also major themes in his campaign. While he acknowledges that commission meetings are open to the public and materials are available online, he believes residents should have more opportunities to participate in discussions.

“No one is allowed to ask questions at the meeting,” he said. “You only get three minutes to talk.”

Shalhoup has proposed holding recurring public forums where residents could ask questions and share ideas directly with commissioners.

“We should be having think tanks allowing citizens to ask questions and share their own ideas,” he said. “People are smart and through collaboration the commission might hear ideas they hadn’t considered.”

Shalhoup also raised concerns about the construction of the county’s new jail, calling the project an example of what he views as poor financial planning.

He said the facility now requires 128 employees to operate under state mandates and has seen several change orders during construction.

“A new jail had to be built, but the architecture and construction were obviously bad ideas,” he said. “There’s a change order every few months. Why?”

Despite his criticisms, Shalhoup said his goal is not simply to oppose existing leadership but to improve how county government operates.

“Every citizen should be treated with respect,” he said. “I’m a helper.”

As voters prepare to choose their next county commissioners, Shalhoup says he hopes residents will consider his call for what he describes as a more practical approach to governing.

“The choices you make today determine your tomorrow,” he said.