City Council Seat C: The Challengers in Brief

Sharon Welch

Sharon Welch

Age: 67

Personal: Grew up in East Knoxville, lived in Beaumont, now a resident of Fountain City. Divorced (although her ex-husband is now dead and she often refers to herself as a widow). Has four sons and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Professional: Degree in philosophy from University of Tennessee. Worked as a counselor and served as the director of several nonprofits before entering the ministry 22 years ago. Now a pastor at New Living Faith Community Church.

Civic Experience: Former president Eastport Elementary PTA; former president Morningside Home Buyers Association; former president of Center City Republican Club; board member of Knoxville Interdenominational Ministerial Christian Alliance and Spiritual Heritage Knoxville; member of Norwood Kiwanis Club.

Finbarr Saunders

Finbarr Saunders

Age: 66

Personal: Grew up in Sequoyah Hills. Attended Webb High School and studied history at Transylvania College in Kentucky. Married to Ellen Bebb, a teacher in Oak Ridge Schools. Two grown children from first marriage.

Professional: Vice-president of Hamilton National Bank and Park National Bank; founding board member of Trust Company of Knoxville; manager of Novinger, Ball & Zivi, Public Accountants before retiring in 2008.

Civic Experience: Knox County Commission, 2008-2010; former member of board of directors of the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital; past president of Knox Heritage; former board member of Tennessee Preservation Trust; former member of the Downtown Design Review Board and the Metropolitan Drug Commission Board; current chair of Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission.

Ron Peabody

Ron Peabody

Age: 48

Personal: Married to Jamie McCann Peabody; two children in Bearden High School; lives in the Kingston Woods neighborhood near Rocky Hill.

Professional: Agent at New York Life.

Civic Experience: Active member of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral; board member and referee for American Youth Soccer Organization Region 279; breakfast chef at the Volunteer Ministry Center; past president of the Kingston Woods Neighborhood Association. Resigned co-chairmanship of Compassion Knoxville after two months to run for office.

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