Knoxville, TN - Businessman Mark Padgett announced Monday that he is a candidate for City Mayor, saying he believes it has never been more important who we choose as Knoxville's next mayor.  

"Knoxville's next mayor must have a vision for our city, and be able to see that vision through," Padgett said.

"Knoxville is poised to turn a significant corner and build on the progress of the last 7 years, and I believe I'm the right person to lead the way. I know how to ask the right questions, see the possibilities, and implement solutions.

"The next City Mayor must do three things: Help create and attract more 21st century jobs, make the city more user-friendly, and continue improving downtown.

"I look forward to this campaign and listening to the people of Knoxville about how they want the job done."

He also named Ellen Adcock and R. Jackson (Robbie) Pope as co-treasurers for his campaign. Padgett will file the appropriate papers for his candidacy at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Courthouse.

Padgett is CEO of eGovernment Solutions, a local company that he launched in 2005 with $5,000 in savings and a borrowed laptop computer. Padgett's client base has more than doubled during the worst economic downturn since the Depression.

The company's cutting-edge software allows government to work for the people, not the other way around, by making key services more accessible to the public, including being available online. Padgett also worked for Governor Phil Bredesen for three years as part of a team that implemented private sector efficiency techniques to cut 5-10% of the waste from a variety of state departments.

"I've made a payroll. I've got hands-on experience running a successful company," Padgett said. "And I know what it means to take a critical look at government services and make them what they ought to be: more responsive to the people."

Mark and Katie Padgett have a daughter, Kirby. He graduated from Halls High School and Lincoln Memorial University, and he received his MBA from Lincoln Memorial University.

"I am asking the voters of my hometown to join me as we take the tremendous gains made over the past seven years here in Knoxville to the next level," Padgett said.

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Padgett campaign co-treasurers:

Ellen Adcock has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee and is a graduate of Leadership Knoxville and the Negotiation Workshop at Harvard Law School. She is on the board of the Knoxville Community Development Corp., appointed originally by Mayor Victor Ashe and re-appointed by Mayor Bill Haslam. She served as director of the City Department of Administration under Mayor Ashe and has sat on the boards of the State Local Government Planning Advisory Council (coordinating the state growth plan) and the Purchasing Management Association of East Tennessee, as well as the Civil Service Merit Board. A member of the Executive Women's Association, Adcock has been president of the Council of Involved Neighborhoods, was co-founder of the West View Community Action Group and has served on the Knox Heritage Board and the board of the Lakeshore Mental Health Institute.

R. Jackson (Robbie) Pope received his bachelor's degree from Emory University and his doctorate in law from UT. He is director and counsel for real estate matters with the Regal Entertainment group, the world's largest motion picture exhibitor. Previously, he was an attorney with Kramer Rayson Leake Rodgers & Morgan LLP. Pope is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Next Generation and the East Tennessee Alliance. He serves as an officer for the Cherokee Bluff Co-Owners Council and is a member of the UT Cherokee Farm Planning Group. Among his civic activities are Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee, Young Professionals of Knoxville, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and Variety of East Tennessee