Matt Rhea

Matt Rhea is a candidate for County Commissioner District 1 Position 1 in Fayette County, Tennessee, running under the Republican (R) party affiliation in the May 5, 2026 election [3]. While Ballotpedia does not provide regular election coverage for municipal governments in Rhea County, it confirms that Fayette County is subject to local government elections in 2026 [1], [2].

Matt Rhea appears to be a member of the Rhea family with deep historical roots in Fayette County. He was listed as one of the casketbearers for his relative, William A. "Bill" Rhea, Jr., an obituary published in September 2007 by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes [8]. The deceased William Rhea was a native Fayette Countian and United States Veteran who lived in Metairie, Louisiana, from 1954 until his death at age 86 [8]. Matt Rhea is listed among the grandchildren of William A. Rhea, Sr. and Jessie Scott Rhea [8].

Regarding his specific campaign activities for the 2026 County Commissioner race, publicly available sources do not provide detailed biographical information, policy platforms, or professional history beyond his familial connection to local history. The 3B Media News reported that multiple candidates qualified for various positions in Rhea County for the 2026 election, but did not list a Matt Rhea as a candidate there; instead, it listed B.B. Blevins, Jonathan Edwards Roberts, and Billy Thedford for County Commission District 1 in Rhea County [10]. This suggests Matt Rhea is running in Fayette County, not Rhea County, despite the similar names. The Tennessee Secretary of State's office finalized candidate lists for state and federal races in 2026, but local county commissioner listings are typically managed by county election commissions or specific local news outlets which have not provided further details on Matt Rhea's background in the provided sources [12].

Sources

• [1] Rhea County, Tennessee - Ballotpedia
• [2] Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia
• [3] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
• [4] Fayette County, Tennessee Public Records & Documents Search | HomeInfoMax
• [6] Government, Education & Individuals QuickLink Category | Fayette County Chamber of Commerce - TN
• [8] William "Bill" Rhea, Jr. Obituary September 28, 2007 - Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center
• [9] County Executive Head in Rhea County, Tennessee | Good Party
• [10] RHEA COUNTY GEARS UP FOR MAJOR 2026 ELECTIONS WITH MULTIPLE CANDIDATES – 3B Media News
• [11] Rhea County Election Commission
• [12] Tennessee's 2026 candidate lists finalized for state and federal races • Tennessee Lookout

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 “Rhea”, 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 (“Rhea”).

Tennessee — statement of interest

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