Name: Leslie Moore
Political party: Republican
Occupation: Regulatory Consultant
Office sought (District and seat, if applicable): Monroe County Commissioner- District 4
First, talk a little about your background, whether that be within local government or in your professional career, and how it informs your ability to be a leader in your community.
Although I was born in Tennessee and raised in Monroe County, most of my career was spent in federal service in the Western U.S. I hold a Bachelor of Science from Oregon Tech and served in various positions from Natural Resources Specialist to Division Manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming. Those positions required me to have difficult conversations with multiple stakeholders, manage large federal budgets, lead interdisciplinary teams, and develop land use and land management plans. Currently I am in private consulting, and I still find myself doing all those same things, but across the country for major infrastructure, transportation, development, and other projects that require public involvement and complex regulatory processes. These skill sets directly relate to the office I am seeking. A county commissioner is responsible for similar tasks, and the role also involves having difficult conversations with multiple stakeholders and providing disclosure to the public.
What made you pursue this specific seat, or run for reelection in 2026? Why now?
I began attending county commission meetings several years ago to provide insight and input on infrastructure and grants. I noticed there was a lack of involvement from my commissioner in making key decisions that directly affected my district. I also experienced that, despite my assistance, the county was unable to solve critical funding issues for infrastructure and community resources. I am not a complainer, but a problem solver, so I knew that once the seat in my district was up for election, I would run.
What sets you apart from the candidates you are currently running against, or makes you the best possible candidate for the seat you are pursuing?
I have difficult conversations daily. I help others make difficult decisions daily. I do this for large clients nationwide, which are often representatives of local and state governments. I manage large teams of people from various disciplines who often do not agree and are fighting for their own interests. What that experience has taught me is how to find common ground, build consensus, and move projects forward even when stakeholders are in conflict. I know how government processes, budgets, and policy work from the inside, and I know how decisions made at the county level ripple out into people’s daily lives. I am not running because I think I am better than anyone else in this race. I am running because I believe the skills I have spent a career building are exactly what this district needs right now.
In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing the average Monroe County voter today, or the biggest issue facing your specific constituents?
The biggest issue facing the average Monroe County voter today is a lack of proper representation. The county is booming with housing developments and infrastructure is suffering. Many voters are questioning the integrity of some of our leaders. Lawsuits have plagued our county, strained the budget, and the county has growing debt. People do not find out about decisions being made by their commissioners until it is too late. The district needs a commissioner who will represent the entire district and keep voters informed in real time, not after the fact. That means showing up to every meeting, publishing plain-language summaries of key decisions for constituents, and being accessible outside of election season. It also means fighting to ensure that the tax revenue generated in District 4 is reinvested in District 4, whether that is road improvements, school resources, or emergency services capacity.
What is your opinion on government spending, maybe highlighted by sectors of county operations the Commission could be spending more or less money on?
The county needs to treat the disease, not the symptoms. Yes, we need to continue to fund our Sheriff’s department, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and infrastructure projects, but money also needs to be applied to programs in our schools and industrial parks that will provide a sense of accomplishment for our youth, which is critical in breaking the generational cycles of substance abuse and crime. The county needs to look for more ways to utilize federal tax dollars for infrastructure and put some of the burden on the developers and businesses who profit from our location and our citizens. There are more ways to fund critical needs than increasing property taxes and growing county debt.
How has the growth in East Tennessee affected Monroe County, or maybe your specific district?
In District 4, we are seeing massive numbers of single-family homes being built in close proximity to existing neighborhoods, schools, and Highway 411. Traffic is increasing constantly, infrastructure is suffering, safety is at risk, and emergency services will become stressed. The aesthetic character of our area is also being affected by this growth due to a lack of local requirements. Growth is inevitable, but it must happen responsibly. As commissioner, I would push for the county to adopt clearer development standards that require infrastructure improvements to be funded by developers before projects are approved, not after residents are already living with the consequences. I would also work to ensure that Monroe County is pursuing every available federal and state grant program for road, bridge, and utility improvements so that the cost of growth does not fall entirely on existing taxpayers. A plan that protects property owners, business owners, and citizens in general is not anti-growth. It is smart growth.
