{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBrian A. Williams is the Republican nominee for DeKalb County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against independent Keneth Whitehead to succeed retiring Sheriff Patrick Ray [1][2]. He was unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary [3]. Williams currently serves as chief deputy of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nWilliams, 40, was born and raised in the Alexandria community of DeKalb County; his parents are Mike and Vickie Williams and Linda Williams of Alexandria, and he attends Helton Creek The Baptist Church [2]. In 2023 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, and he graduated from the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy at Walters State Community College in 2011 [2].\n\n## Career\nWilliams began at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department as a correctional officer in 2010 and has since served as patrol deputy, patrol sergeant, training officer, detective, captain, and chief deputy, with 15 years in law enforcement [2]. He has also served 14 years with the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and, since 2021, as an emergency medical responder with DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [New County Mayor and Sheriff to be Elected August 6 \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/new-county-mayor-and-sheriff-to-be-elected-august-6-early-voting-begins-friday-july-17/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Brian Williams Announces Candidacy for DeKalb County Sheriff in 2026 GOP Primary \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/brian-williams-announces-candidacy-for-dekalb-county-sheriff-in-2026-elections/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Stage Set for May 5th DeKalb Republican and Democratic Primaries \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/stage-set-for-may-5th-dekalb-republican-and-democratic-primaries-with-only-one-contested-district-race/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","county":"Dekalb","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"BRIAN","fullname":"BRIAN A WILLIAMS","lastname":"WILLIAMS","middlename":"A","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Dekalb","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Dekalb","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican nominee for DeKalb County Sheriff; chief deputy of the sheriff's department with 15 years in county law enforcement.","terms":[],"token":"K4PFCP0Vze"}