{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid W. Linkous is the Republican nominee for Hawkins County Mayor on the August 6, 2026 ballot, running unopposed after winning a four-way GOP primary in May 2026 [1][2]. Linkous, described in local coverage as a local businessman and a frequent attendee and commenter at County Commission meetings, ran a door-to-door campaign focused on business attraction, children's welfare, public safety, and roadway improvements, with a stated vision that boils down to one word: \"prosperity\" [1][3][4]. He has also said he wants to help preserve farmland and keep the county's \"small community character\" while preparing for the next generation [4].\n\n## Office history\nLinkous defeated incumbent Mayor Mark DeWitte in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, taking 2,957 votes (about 35.7%) in a four-way field; Keith Gibson finished second with 2,078, DeWitte third with 2,005, and Kenneth Stapleton fourth with 1,235 [1][2][3]. Linkous carried early voting by roughly 500 votes and held that margin through election day [1]. With no Democratic or independent challenger filed, he is expected to be certified as Hawkins County's next mayor after the August 6 general election [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [No excuses: Stewart wins primary, Linkous unseats DeWitte](https://www.therogersvillereview.com/news/article_f3f7b9f3-e7c6-4839-9584-7f87024cae4a.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[2] [Linkous defeats DeWitte in Hawkins Co. mayoral primary (WJHL)](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/linkous-defeats-dewitte-in-hawkins-co-mayoral-primary/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[3] [Hawkins voters have plenty of options (Rogersville Review)](https://www.therogersvillereview.com/news/article_a72b5833-32a6-408c-84a9-21f45511c5f5.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[4] ['A better way': David Linkous runs for Hawkins mayor (Kingsport Times News)](https://timesnews.net/news/356181/a-better-way-david-linkous-runs-for-hawkins-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[5] [Official ballot, Hawkins County, August 6, 2026](https://hawkinscountytn.gov/pdfs/elections/sample_ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Hawkins","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"DAVID","fullname":"DAVID W. LINKOUS","lastname":"LINKOUS","middlename":"W.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Hawkins","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Hawkins","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Local businessman who unseated incumbent Mayor Mark DeWitte in the May 2026 GOP primary on a platform of business attraction, public safety, and roadway improvements.","terms":[],"token":"5VR3JoX2qu"}