MANNIS TO CREATE MAYORAL COUNCIL ON VETERAN’S AFFAIRS

Mayoral candidate seeks to convene community stakeholders in order to begin addressing the issues facing veterans throughout Knoxville. 

KNOXVILLE, TN—HonorAir Knoxville founder and former Chief Operating Officer for the City of Knoxville, Eddie Mannis, pledges to create an Ad Hoc Committee dedicated to tackling issues such as homelessness, healthcare access, and mental health services, veterans in our community continue to struggle with.

The Mayor’s Council on Veteran’s Affairs will be comprised of veterans, city officials, and other community stakeholders. The goal of the Council will be to provide a holistic analysis of the issues and to propose broad-reaching solutions. To begin, members of the Council will be charged with developing both short-term and long-term goals. These goals will provide the necessary structure in executing the Council’s mission of assisting the mayor in making progress towards ending the chronic issues our veterans encounter.

Additionally, the Council will also be charged with the following tasks:

• Brainstorming effective solutions and providing support for the nearly 15% of the homeless population that identify as veterans.
• Collaborate with not-for-profit and private sector partners in order to plan events and foster greater awareness about the issues facing Knoxville’s veterans.
• Attend and represent the mayor at various veteran-related functions and events throughout Knoxville.
• Provide monthly updates to the mayor highlighting veteran activities and programming, part of which will be devoted to tracking successful initiatives.

Finally, Mannis will seek to foster a closer relationship with Knox County in order to best utilize the resources made available through the County’s Veteran’s Service office. These resources include: improved access to disability compensation, burial benefits, more affordable healthcare options, and an emphasis on continued support for veterans whose claims are denied.

“Veterans have always had a special place in my heart, and they deserve only the greatest level of respect from all of us whom they protect and serve,” Mannis said.

“My Council on Veteran’s Affairs will work to ensure that veterans remain at the forefront of my agenda as the next mayor of Knoxville. Each member will work to promote an intentional focus on the issues facing our vets.”