Justin Biggs

Justin Biggs is a Republican candidate seeking re-election to the position of Knox County Trustee in Tennessee, with an election date set for May 5, 2026 [1]. He was first elected to the office in 2022 and draws an annual salary of $164,904 [7]. The Knox County Trustee is responsible for collecting property taxes, disbursing and accounting for county funds, and investing money to earn interest and profits for the county [7].

Following his election, Biggs expanded his office's payroll by hiring several friends and granting them raises ranging from 30% to 71%, which increased the office's payroll costs by nearly $400,000 compared to the previous trustee's tenure [7]. In 2023, the county leased six new Ford Silverado 1500 pickup trucks for Biggs' office at a cost of $397,968, which was approximately $200,000 more than what taxpayers pay for vehicles used by other county offices [7].

In November, Knox County auditors began investigating spending by Biggs and his employees after receiving a tip, specifically examining travel expenses and the use of the leased trucks [5]. GPS data acquired by WBIR showed that Biggs drew a travel allowance while also using the county vehicles for personal business, including trips to Virginia, which constitutes "double-dipping" as officeholders can choose one option but not both [5]. The investigation also revealed that other employees used the vehicles for personal errands, such as checking on pets [5].

In response to the scrutiny, Biggs announced he was cooperating with authorities and fired an employee, Jason Dobbins, for a violation of policy [5]. He has reimbursed the county $3,500 for excess expenses, though it remains unclear if this covers all amounts owed [7]. The Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury is conducting an ongoing review of Biggs' activities and those of other county officials, including Property Assessor Phil Ballard [5].

As a result of the investigation, Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen recused herself from any potential criminal case due to a conflict of interest involving her assistant's spouse, who works for the county but is not an employee of Biggs [5]. Blount County District Attorney General Ryan Desmond was appointed as pro tem to handle the matter [5]. Former Knoxville Mayor Victor Ashe has called on Biggs to resign, and most of the Republican establishment has kept distance from his campaign, with many preferring his primary opponent, Register of Deeds Nick McBride [7].

Sources

• [1] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
• [5] Knox Co. DA recuses herself from any potential criminal investigation into Trustee Justin Biggs, other county employees
• [7] Knox County lessons about a trustworthy trustee • Tennessee Lookout