{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJackie Melton is the incumbent Republican Sheriff of Meigs County and the only qualified candidate for sheriff on the August 6, 2026 ballot [2][3].\n\n## Background and education\nMelton is a graduate of Meigs County High School, attended Cleveland State Community College, and is a graduate of the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy [1].\n\n## Career and office history\nMelton has served in Meigs County law enforcement since 1975. He worked six years as a deputy sheriff, was appointed Decatur police chief in 1981 and held that post for 29 years, and has served as Meigs County Sheriff since 2010 [1]. He is a certified training instructor with the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy, a qualified hazardous-materials first responder, and serves on the 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force and child-protection teams [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nMelton implemented the first full-time School Resource Officer at Meigs County High School in 1998 and served as a part-time SRO for Meigs Middle School from 1999 to 2010 [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Sheriff - Meigs County Sheriff Department (official biography)](https://www.meigscountysheriff.com/sheriff/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Melton seeking election as Meigs County sheriff - Daily Post Athenian](https://www.dailypostathenian.com/article_49c60030-56d5-579b-8dee-ff65a0d6276d.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Candidates qualify for upcoming Meigs County election - Daily Post Athenian](https://www.dailypostathenian.com/news/article_9e1d293c-1706-4188-a622-00c823c54d67.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","county":"Meigs","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"JACKIE","fullname":"JACKIE MELTON","lastname":"MELTON","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Meigs","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":"Meigs","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":"Incumbent Republican Meigs County Sheriff since 2010; law-enforcement career since 1975 including 29 years as Decatur police chief; unopposed on the 2026 ballot.","terms":[],"token":"KbOetjzdnE"}