KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond is withdrawing from the race for Knox County mayor.
He made the announcement Wednesday.
In August, he made public a prostate cancer diagnosis. While the cancer was caught early and is "very treatable," Hammond said in a statement Wednesday it also made him pause and think.
"Because of this unexpected diagnosis, it has prompted me to look at my life and what is important," he said in the statement. "There is no question my number one priorities are my health and my family, which includes my wife, Dawn, and our family which consists of seven children and ten grandchildren.
"Another priority is my strong desire to serve Knox County. Therefore, I have decided my focus should be on my present role, where my team has made wide-ranging improvements to benefit the court system and our citizens."
The clerk said he likes his job and wants to keep doing it. He plans to run for reelection in two years.
Hammond said in April he planned to run to replace Mayor Glenn Jacobs, whose second term ends in 2026. The county mayor is term-limited.
A former Knox County commissioner, he said then he'd appointed a treasurer. In his most campaign disclosure filing in July, Hammond reported receiving $12,600 and having on hand $10,390, records show.
Then in August, Hammond shared the cancer diagnosis. He's updated his condition on Facebook, and last month posted "it was detected early due to constant PSA tests. The other news is I am learning about the red tape and constant hurdles with insurance."
Hammond is well-known in the East Tennessee broadcasting world. He spent 35 years at local radio station ratings leader WIVK.
Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay also has announced plans to seek the office and is already running an aggressive campaign. Disclosure records show in the most recent July report that he has $271,000 on hand for his race.
His campaign touted the record level of fundraising at the time.
Jay offered his best wishes to Hammond following his announcement Wednesday.
Jay is on his second at-large, four-year term. It ends in 2026. He founded the nonprofit Random Acts of Flowers, which redistributes recycled flower arrangements to bring cheer to those in health care facilities.
While on commission, he's championed projects such as the Northshore Greenway and Pedestrian Safety Project and he set up the Junior Commission leadership program.
