{"age":45,"biography":"Brad Wardlaw is a Republican candidate running for Hamilton County Commission District 2 in the May 5, 2026 primary election [3]. He is challenging incumbent Commissioner Chip Baker [7]. The District 2 seat covers Signal Mountain, Walden, and areas extending to Mowbray Mountain [10].\n\nWardlaw, 45, is a lifelong Hamilton County resident who grew up in Hixson and attended Red Bank High School [9]. He holds bachelor's degrees in business administration and human resource management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [7]. Professionally, he works as a licensed real estate agent and small business owner leading property management, construction, and excavation operations [9]. He manages approximately a dozen rental properties in the county and performs renovation work [7].\n\nWardlaw resides with his wife, Brooke, and their two children, Carter and Camilla, near the Falling Water area in unincorporated Hamilton County [7]. His wife is a Signal Mountain native [9]. Wardlaw has lived in District 2 for over a decade [9]. He is active in community service, having coached with the North River Soccer Association and the lower school team at Chattanooga Christian School [9]. He has also volunteered with Junior Achievement at CCS to teach business and economics [9] and serves on the committee for Northside Neighborhood House\u2019s Not So Silent Auction [9].\n\nWardlaw announced his campaign in February 2026, citing a need for proactive leadership over reactive decision-making regarding growth and infrastructure [7]. His stated priorities include addressing infrastructure deficits, supporting underfunded volunteer fire departments, and creating a comprehensive plan for school facilities to manage overcrowding [7]. He also advocates for senior tax relief, ranging from tax freezes to full elimination, and aims to recruit new employers to strengthen the local economy [9]. Wardlaw criticizes the current administration for allowing high-density development without adequate planning and promises to be more accessible and visible to residents than his predecessor [9].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Tennessee House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2026)\n- [3] [sample ballot](https://elect.hamiltontn.gov/Portals/12/HTML/RepSample.html)\n- [4] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [5] [Elections Calendar | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/calendar)\n- [6] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [7] [Commission challenger Brad Wardlaw wants to help Hamilton County manage growth proactively | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/04/commission-challenger-brad-wardlaw-wants-to-help/)\n- [9] [Brad Wardlaw Announces Campaign For Hamilton County Commission District 2 Republican Primary - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/2/27/515367/Brad-Wardlaw-Announces-Campaign-For.aspx)\n- [10] [Republican Brad Wardlaw running against Hamilton County Commissioner Chip Baker | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/mar/25/republican-brad-wardlaw-running-against-hamilton/)\n- [11] [Brad Wardlaw says he's running for a seat on the Hamilton ...](https://www.facebook.com/timesfreepress/posts/brad-wardlaw-says-hes-running-for-a-seat-on-the-hamilton-county-commission-to-br/1382916477204191/)\n- [12] [Incumbent Chip Baker stresses infrastructure needs in Hamilton County | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/04/incumbent-chip-baker-stresses-infrastructure/)","birthdate":"Tue, 03 Mar 1981 00:00:00 GMT","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 2"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"hamilton","displayname":"Wardlaw, Brad","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"04/28/26","documentid":"5CBB4C5C-A06D-4450-AA77-C11ECC9A50E4","documentname":"Pre-Primary 2026","documentnameid":["5CBB4C5C-A06D-4450-AA77-C11ECC9A50E4","Pre-Primary 2026"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"04/10/26","documentid":"0D1E31B4-2B3B-4E4A-B9A3-301C368B4485","documentname":"1st Qtr 2026","documentnameid":["0D1E31B4-2B3B-4E4A-B9A3-301C368B4485","1st Qtr 2026"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"02/20/26","documentid":"774A8189-F748-4444-B862-E9D4F4C801E6","documentname":"Appt of Political Treasurer 2026","documentnameid":["774A8189-F748-4444-B862-E9D4F4C801E6","Appt of Political Treasurer 2026"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Political Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"County Commission Dist. 2","source_customer_id":"0F5A08EE-617A-4B11-AD30-E963AE98E120","source_filer_id":"DC575531-FE86-4F3C-ABA6-1A9BCCF0876B","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Brad","fullname":"Brad Wardlaw","lastname":"Wardlaw","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":"County Commission District 2","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":"hamilton","cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"county_commission_district_2","contest_title":"County Commission District 2","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":"County Commission District 2","party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_2","office_title":"County Commission District 2","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Brad Wardlaw is a Republican candidate challenging incumbent Chip Baker for Hamilton County Commission District 2 in the May 5, 2026 primary.","terms":[],"token":"Bpjvw1MWFn"}