Former Johnson City commissioner launches reelection campaign

Former Johnson City Commissioner Aaron Murphy has launched his campaign for city commission, publicly marking his run for one of the two board seats up for grabs this November. Murphy held a campaign launch Monday outside the Langston Center, according to a press release from his campaign team. "I serve because I believe service is one of life's highest callings," Murphy said in a statement included in the release. "And I am answering the call to serve the city I love." Murphy was first elected to the city commission in 2020 and served as Vice Mayor 2022 through 2024. He lost his commission seat in the 2024 election to current commissioner Joe Wise. In the release that he's "not running to be above the people, he's running to serve the people." "I believe we need to be reminded that the members of our City Commission are citizens and neighbors first," Murphy said. "Before there is a title, there is a person. Before there is a position, there is a responsibility. Before there is an office, there is a community that must be served. I am not running to be above the people. I am running to serve the people." Murphy is the CEO of Johnson City Good Samaritan Ministries and currently serves as the pastor at Faithful Baptist Church, according to his website. He's also has a history serving on several public boards including the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission, Johnson City Development Authority (JCDA) and more. So far, Murphy, Whitney Goetz, Dave Adams, Sylvain Bruni, Bud Hill Jr., Ryan Potter, J.D. Bo Westmoreland and Louise Stump have picked up petitions to run in the city commission race, according to the Washington County Elections Office website. Goetz, the incumbent, is currently finishing up her one-year appointed term on the board. Vice Mayor Jenny Brock, who has said she will not be running for reelection, currently holds the other seat up for election this November.