RANDY PORTER

Current office and 2026 campaign

Randy Porter is the Republican Putnam County Mayor, first taking office in 2014, and is seeking his fourth term in the August 6, 2026 general election against Democrat Ryan Dalton ¹²³. He won the May 2026 Republican primary with about 86% of the vote over Wayne Nabors ³.

Background and education

Porter holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with an accounting minor and a bachelor's degree in applied science (paramedic) from Volunteer State Community College, and completed additional business study at Tennessee Tech University ². He is a Certified Public Administrator and was the first Tennessee county mayor to earn the Certified County Financial Officer designation ².

Career

Porter began working for Putnam County in 1980 as a paramedic and became Emergency Medical Services/911 director in 1983, a role he held for about 30 years; he also served as county coroner, infectious disease program administrator, and technology director ². He sat on the original steering committee that brought Enhanced 911 to Putnam County in 1988 and chaired the Emergency Communications District Board until 1991 ². He served as chairman of the state Emergency Medical Services Board and spent 18 years on the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, 16 of them as chairman ².

Office history

Porter has served as Putnam County Mayor since 2014 ¹². His emergency-management background informed the county's response to the March 2020 EF-4 tornado and the 2015 and 2021 ice storms ².

Legislative record and accomplishments

Porter's campaign cites more than 6,000 new jobs, a $250 million Portobello America tile plant, the $50 million Shoppes at Eagle Point retail development, more than 2,200 new homes since 2015, and a new county event center opening in 2025 ².

Family

Porter has been married to Melanie for 39 years; they have a daughter, Paige, and a granddaughter, Avery ². He is deacon chairman and treasurer at Scott Avenue Baptist Church ².

Sources