Mayor Indya Kincannon - Democratic Mayors

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon presented her State of the City address and budget proposal, sharing the city’s challenges and how it has remained strong due to the hard work and collaboration of community partners and city employees. Mayor Kincannon’s top priorities are competitive wages for city workers, improving parks, infrastructure development, affordable housing, mental health services, public safety, and broadband access.

In her remarks, Mayor Kincannon discussed creating the city’s Office of Community Safety to address violent crime, starting a CrimeStoppers tip line program, and working with nonprofits to train and equip teams of street violence interrupters. She also noted plans to bring employee pay up to fair market rates by including $16 million in the upcoming budget to make wages competitive.

“We have had an incredibly challenging 2.5 years. But Knoxville is resilient. And through it all, we have stayed true to our mission and values. Because of that, we have a lot to celebrate today,” said Mayor Kincannon.

Watch Mayor Kincannon’s address here.

More State of the City Addresses

Akron, Ohio

Mayor Shammas Malik

During his third State of the City Address, Mayor Shammas Malik outlined a sweeping vision for Akron’s future centered on collaboration, innovation, and community investment. The speech highlighted major new initiatives across housing, public safety, youth opportunity, sustainability, and economic development, all tied together through the city’s “Together for Akron” framework.

Evansville, Indiana

Mayor Stephanie Terry

In her third State of the City Address, Mayor Stephanie Terry reflected on a year defined by steady progress and continued work to build a vibrant, inclusive community where safety, opportunity, and connection help all residents thrive. Speaking under the theme “Building What Matters,” she emphasized that the city’s progress is driven by people—city employees, partners, and residents—who continue to show up and invest in Evansville’s future.

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Mayor Paige Cognetti

Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti delivered her State of the City Address, outlining a six-year turnaround that has taken the city from the brink of financial distress to a position of stability and growth, while continuing investments in public safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and lower costs for residents. Mayor Cognetti also highlighted Scranton’s financial progress, including three credit rating upgrades since exiting financially distressed status in 2022 and achieving its current A- rating with a stable outlook.