{"biography":"> **Editorial note \u2014 same-name confusion.** This candidate, James \"Ryan\" Skelton of Lewis County, is not the same person as a similarly surnamed Wayne County, Tennessee pastor and businessman who sought a state legislative seat in the same cycle. They are different individuals; this profile is about the Lewis County mayoral candidate.\n\n## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJames \"Ryan\" Skelton is the Republican nominee for Lewis County Mayor on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, facing independent candidate Shane Blackwood [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, Skelton defeated incumbent Mayor Jonah Keltner by 86 votes, receiving 1,527 votes (51.45%) to Keltner's 1,441 (48.55%) [1]. Skelton has said transparency is important to him and that he wants a strong working relationship with county employees and residents; he has pledged accountability, describing himself as not the \"kick the can down the road\" type [2]. On county finances, he has said raising taxes should not be the first answer and that county government should operate efficiently, cut waste, and ensure existing dollars are used responsibly before asking taxpayers for more [2].\n\n## Background and education\nSkelton has said he has called Lewis County home his entire life, that he was born at Lewis County Hospital, and that the county, its people, and its way of life are part of who he is [2].\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Meet the Lewis County Mayoral Candidates - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/04/09/news/meet-the-lewis-county-mayoral-candidates/11976.html) (publisher blocks automated access; biographical facts above drawn from indexed excerpts, not the full article)\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tiller Takes Sheriff's Race; Skelton Unseats Keltner in Election Night Shakeup - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/05/07/news/tiller-takes-sheriffs-race-skelton-unseats-keltner-in-election-night-shakeup/12153.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Meet the Lewis County Mayoral Candidates - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/04/09/news/meet-the-lewis-county-mayoral-candidates/11976.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_clerk","county":"Wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Clerk"},{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Lewis","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"JAMES","fullname":"JAMES RONNIE SKELTON","lastname":"SKELTON","middlename":"RONNIE","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_clerk","contest_title":"County Clerk","county":"Wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_clerk","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_clerk","contest_title":"County Clerk","county":"Wayne","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_clerk","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_clerk","office_title":"County Clerk","state":"TN","terms":[]},{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Lewis","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":"Lewis","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":"Republican nominee for Lewis County Mayor; lifelong county resident who won the 2026 GOP primary by 86 votes, unseating the incumbent. Runs on transparency and fiscal restraint.","terms":[],"token":"BDjOSoaPk8"}