David Hatley

David Hatley is an entrepreneur and business owner from Elizabethton, Tennessee, who announced his candidacy for Governor of Tennessee in March 2026 [13]. He filed his candidacy petition with the Tennessee Secretary of State on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, running as an independent candidate [13]. The qualifying deadline for state and federal offices was 12:00 noon on that same day [3]. Hatley is the founder and CEO of LPI Inc., a Johnson City-based manufacturer of hot tubs and tanning beds [13]. He claims to own nine companies, hold seven patents, and operate 740,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, employing over 750 people [5]. His business history includes starting his first venture at age seventeen by selling tanning lotions from a van before becoming a manufacturer himself [5]. Hatley also co-owns Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort (formerly Wolf Ridge) in Mars Hill, North Carolina, which he and his wife Deborah purchased in 2023 for $8.4 million [6]. He has been recognized for community support during Hurricane Helene by supplying supplies to affected areas [10]. His campaign platform, "Elevate Tennessee," focuses on economic expansion, workforce development, and fiscal responsibility based on his business experience [16].

Sources

• [3] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
• [4] 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia
• [5] David Hatley for Governor – Hatley for governor of TN
• [6] How This Courageous Couple Is Bringing A 1970s Ski Resort Back To Life
• [7] David W. Hatley Obituary September 27, 2018 - Hux & Lipford Funeral Home, LLC
• [8] David Hatley in people
• [9] David Hatley, the man behind some of the hottest trends in ...
• [10] David Hatley, an Elizabethton native and entrepreneur ...
• [12] LPI Inc. CEO David Hatley probably never envisioned his ...
• [13] Elizabethton-born entrepreneur announces candidacy for governor
• [16] David Hatley enters Tennessee governor’s race | Elizabethton Star
• [17] David Hatley: A Business Titan's Legacy of Wealth, Philanthropy, and Community Impact in Johnson City, TN | David Hatley Johnson City Tn Net Worth
• [20] Wolf Ridge Resort Gets New Owners, Deborah and David Hatley - Ski Southeast

Public filings

Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.

Tennessee — campaign finance

• State offices (Governor, US Senate, US Rep, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee) — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Hatley”, and submit.
• Shelby County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — Shelby County Public Campaign Finance Portal. Select the election year and search by candidate name (“Hatley”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

• Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Hatley”and, if needed, select the applicable position.

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