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Gary D. Behler
born 1957-03-06 (Age 69)
Office history
Gary D. Behler is a Republican candidate running for re-election as Hamilton County Juvenile Court Clerk in Tennessee [7]. He first won the office in 2010, defeating incumbent Democrat Ron Swafford [11]. As of the May 2026 election cycle, Behler has formally announced his candidacy for another term [7].
During his tenure, Behler has focused on modernizing the Juvenile Court Clerk’s Office through technology. He oversaw a transition from paper-based processes to an electronic workflow system, becoming the first State Court Clerk’s Office in Tennessee to be fully electronic according to the County Technical Assistance Services [7]. His office digitized over 9.7 million pages of court records [7]. In February 2018, the office was recognized as the first fully electronic state court clerk’s office in the state, and an e-Filing system implemented in 2022 became one of the first to serve juvenile courts in Tennessee [8].
Behler has also emphasized fiscal responsibility and efficiency. Campaign officials state that he has reduced the office operating budget each year for 15 years and achieved zero audit findings since taking office [7]. He was named the 2023 Tennessee State Court Clerk of the Year by the Tennessee Association of State Court Clerks [7].
Beyond his elected role, Behler serves as Chairman of the Hamilton County Children’s Advocacy Center and is a board member for the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) [7]. He previously served as president and legislative chair of the Tennessee State Court Clerks Association [7]. He was appointed to the Tennessee Human Rights Commission by Governor Bill Haslam and reappointed by Governor Bill Lee [7].
Behler holds a B.S. and M.S. in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), graduating Magna Cum Laude [7]. He has served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at UTC for 36 years [7]. He is a Certified Public Administrator (CPA) and a Certified County Financial Officer (CCFO) [7].
Behler resides in Georgetown with his wife, Jamie, and their dogs [7].
Sources
- [1] United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2026 - Ballotpedia
- [3] Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State
- [4] sample ballot
- [7] Juvenile Court Clerk Gary Behler Announces Re-Election Campaign - Chattanoogan.com
- [8] Gary Behler Named County Officials Association State Court Clerk Of The Year - Chattanoogan.com
- [9] Gary Behler To Seek Re-Election As Hamilton County Juvenile Court Clerk - Chattanoogan.com
- [10] Record breaking: Hamilton County Juvenile Court leads the state in electronic conversion | Chattanooga Times Free Press
- [11] Behler Picks Up For Juvenile Court Clerk; Boyd, Stiner Pick Up For Commission Seats - Chattanoogan.com
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 (search)
- 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 “Behler”, and submit.
- County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Behler”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Behler”and, if needed, select the applicable position.