Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Johnson City Commission Election 2026

2 of 5

council seats up

Vote for up to 2

10 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Commission · Vote for up to 2

Dave Adams6sourced
Jenny BrockIncumbentJohnson City vice mayor and former mayor who has served on the commission since 2012.7sourced
Sylvain BruniSenior principal engineer at Aptima and chair of the Washington County Democratic Party.5sourced
Whitney Calhoun GoetzIncumbentJohnson City commissioner appointed in October 2025; former ETSU alumni association director.6sourced
William (Bud) Hill Jr.Retired lifelong Johnson City resident who has run for city commission in past elections.1sourced
Gary KalogerosHead of Peerless Properties Development and Hospitality Concepts and owner of BURG’r & BARREL.2sourced
Tricia KoradeChair of the Washington County Board of Equalization with 35 years in corporate strategy and finance.3sourced
Aaron T. MurphyFormer Johnson City commissioner (2020 to 2024), CEO of Good Samaritan Ministries and senior pastor.3sourced
Pete Paduch3sourced
J.D. Bo Westmoreland4sourced

All Johnson City voters choose two commissioners at large (the ballot reads “Vote For Two”). The race is nonpartisan.

1 note on these statements

Whitney Calhoun Goetz holds the seat she was appointed to in 2025 to continue former Mayor John Hunter's term; Jenny Brock, the vice mayor, holds the other seat on the ballot. Johnson City Press · Aug 21, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Greg CoxMayor and Commissioner; term ends December 20285sourced Todd FowlerCommissioner; term ends December 20283sourced Joe WiseCommissioner; term ends December 20285sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesProperty taxes and the aquatic center, Flock license plate cameras, Data center rules Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the aquatic center

Where it standsThe commission adopted the FY2027 budget 4-1 on June 25, 2026, with a 28-cent property tax increase that includes funding for a new aquatic center.

What's on the tableThe next commission will carry out the adopted budget, set future tax rates and decide how to proceed on the aquatic center and Freedom Hall Pool.

The commission defeated 1-4 a motion to remove the aquatic center and its funding from the budget, then approved the budget on final reading 4-1. City Commission minutes, June 25, 2026 · Jun 25, 2026
The last time the city raised its property tax rate was in 2023, and before that in 2016. Johnson City Press · Jun 25, 2026
First-year debt service for a full aquatics facility buildout is $2.815 million of the added budget costs. Johnson City Press · Jun 25, 2026

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsThe city has a 10-year Flock Safety agreement approved in July 2025, and residents and candidates are pressing the commission to end it.

What's on the tableThe next commission will decide whether to keep, limit or end the Safe City Project contract and what oversight applies.

The commission voted July 17, 2025 to approve a 10-year agreement covering 145 license plate recognition devices and 145 pan/tilt/zoom cameras. City of Johnson City
JCPD disabled the Nationwide Lookup function on Sept. 14, 2026, after learning it had not been turned off. City of Johnson City
After this year the contract will cost the city a little under $1 million annually. Johnson City Press · Oct 1, 2026

Data center rules

Where it standsA moratorium on new development in the I-2 industrial zone runs to December 2026 while the city writes data center regulations.

What's on the tableThe next commission will vote on the data center zoning amendment and related municipal code changes.

The commission limited data centers to the I-2 Heavy Industrial Zone on June 5, 2025 and placed a one-year moratorium on new I-2 development. City of Johnson City
The commission voted 5-0 on May 21, 2026 to extend the I-2 moratorium by six months. City Commission minutes, May 21, 2026 · May 21, 2026
The Regional Planning Commission approved the data center amendment 4-2 on June 9, 2026. WJHL · Jun 9, 2026
The amendments must pass three readings before the city commission to be adopted. Johnson City Press · Jun 9, 2026

Housing and development

Where it standsThe commission has been approving rezonings and annexations as the city grows, some on split votes.

What's on the tableThe next commission will vote on rezonings, annexations and zoning rules that shape where and what housing is built.

The commission passed the rezoning of 9.52 acres at 1170 West Mountainview Road from R-3 to R-4 on first reading 3-2 on June 4, 2026. City Commission minutes, June 4, 2026 · Jun 4, 2026
The commission approved the final resolution annexing about 13.64 acres on Hopper Road 5-0 on July 2, 2026. City Commission minutes, July 2, 2026 · Jul 2, 2026

Public input and trust

Where it standsPublic comment at commission meetings is limited to 15 speakers of three minutes each, and candidates are campaigning on transparency.

What's on the tableThe next commission will decide how residents are heard before votes, including public comment rules and engagement.

Public comment is limited to 15 speakers (10 for agenda-related comment, 5 for general comment), each limited to three minutes. City of Johnson City
Johnson City voters rejected four proposed charter changes in August 2024, including a cut in required ordinance readings from three to two. WJHL · Aug 1, 2024

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

1. What should the commission do about the aquatic center funded by the FY2027 tax increase?
2. What should the city do with its Flock camera contract?
3. How should Johnson City handle data centers?
4. What should the city do to make housing more affordable?
5. How should residents be heard before big decisions?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Voter registration deadlineWashington County Election CommissionOct 5, 2026
Early voting beginsWashington County Election CommissionOct 14, 2026
Early voting endsWashington County Election CommissionOct 29, 2026
Absentee ballot request deadlineWashington County Election CommissionOct 24, 2026
Election DayWashington County Election CommissionNov 3, 2026

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Greg Cox, Todd Fowler, Joe Wise2 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Commissioners are non-partisan, elected at large for four-year staggered terms. City of Johnson City
After each election the commission elects one of its members to serve as mayor for a two-year term. City of Johnson City
New commissioners are sworn in on the first Monday in December. City of Johnson City
The Nov. 3, 2026 ballot lists ten candidates for City Commission, “Vote For Two (2)”. Washington County Election Commission · Sep 1, 2026

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