WILL LEHEW

Current office and 2026 campaign

Will Lehew is the Democratic candidate for Rutherford County Commission District 4 in the August 6, 2026 general election, opposing incumbent Republican Robert Peay Jr. ³. His two stated campaign priorities are universal free breakfast and lunch for all Rutherford County Schools students—which he estimates would cost about 1% of the annual budget, or roughly 0.3% after federal USDA programs—and prioritizing county infrastructure to accommodate population growth, favoring "people over builders" and building on the Plan Rutherford framework ². He also supports reallocating existing county reserves toward resident services such as curbside recycling, trash pickup, parks, and community centers without raising taxes ¹.

Background and education

Lehew is a lifelong Rutherford County resident whose family has roots in the Milton/Halls Hill area dating to about 1830, and he grew up in the Kittrell community ¹. He graduated from Oakland High School in 2001 ¹.

Career

Lehew spent about 15 years with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office in roles including corrections, patrol, field training, and school resource officer duties, then worked in the private sector for roughly a decade before returning to public service at the state level ¹.

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