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David Velarde
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
David Velarde is the independent candidate for Knox County Commission At-Large Seat 11 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against Republican Garrett Holt and Democrat Vivian Underwood Shipe 1. He did not participate in the Knox News in-person candidate interviews and disclosed using AI assistance to organize his research and writing 1. His platform centers on seniors: affordable senior-housing development, a public inventory of genuinely affordable senior-living units, senior transportation access outside city limits, and emergency-response times in rural and fast-growing districts 1. He measures success by whether "working families can afford safe housing for aging parents without financial hardship," and campaigns on "Results, not slogans." 1
Career
Velarde is a podiatrist (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) with more than 25 years of practice in Knoxville and East Tennessee 12. He earned his DPM from Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami in 1996, took over Dr. Barry Ritchie's practice in 2004, and is the sole podiatrist at Advanced Foot Care Center 2.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Velarde”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Velarde”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Velarde”and, if needed, select the applicable position.