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Larsen Jay

Larsen Jay
County Commission At-Large A elected 2022-08-04 2022-09-01 to 2026-09-01
Candidate for County Mayor (Republican Primary) Knox, TN 2026-05-05

Larsen Jay is a Republican candidate for Knox County Mayor in Tennessee, seeking to succeed the term-limited incumbent Glenn Jacobs [12]. He is currently serving his second term as an at-large Commissioner on the Knox County Commission (Seat 10), having been first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022 [1]. During his tenure, he served as Commission Chairman for the 2020-2021 legislative session [7]. Jay is running to replace Jacobs, whose time in office ends in 2026 [12].

Jay holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee [1]. Before entering politics, he worked as a film and television producer for nearly 15 years, earning an Emmy Award and dozens of Telly Awards for his work on projects including "Erin Brockovich" and "That Evening Sun" [7], [8]. In July 2007, Jay suffered a near-fatal fall from a workshop roof. During his recovery, he founded Random Acts of Flowers, a nonprofit that redistributes recycled floral arrangements to healthcare facilities. He served as its CEO for 13 years, expanding the organization to have branches in Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Indianapolis [8].

Jay’s community involvement includes service on the boards of the Legacy Parks Foundation, Knox Education Foundation, The Joy of Music School, The Bijou Theatre, Knoxville Symphony, and the Alliance for Better Nonprofits [1]. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Knoxville News Sentinel’s “40 Under 40” and a graduate of Leadership Knoxville [1]. He also helped lead efforts to reopen the Bijou Theatre, start the East TN Chili Cook-Off, and bring the "Holidays on Ice" ice rink back to downtown Knoxville [1]. Currently, he serves as the Director of Business Alliances at PYA, a national professional services firm [7].

In his campaign for Knox County Mayor, Jay has positioned himself as a conservative leader focused on fiscal responsibility, public education, law enforcement, veterans, and infrastructure [6]. He launched his campaign in summer 2024 with a kick-off event at the Bridgewater Place Event Center [12]. Disclosure records indicate he is the leading spender in the Republican primary, having spent approximately $227,000 in one recent reporting period and holding over $250,000 on hand [19]. His opponents in the Republican primary are fellow Commissioner Kim Frazier and school board member Betsy Henderson [14], [19].

Jay’s political loyalty has been challenged by a group of conservative activists who petitioned the Tennessee Republican Party to remove him from the ballot, citing past donations to Democrats and independents. The state party executive committee dismissed the complaint, allowing Jay to remain on the ballot [14]. Jay disputes the characterization of his record, noting he is a lifelong Republican with support from party leadership and nearly 1,000 local donors [14].

Sources

Public filings

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Campaign finance

Statement of interest (conflict of interest)

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