{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDenny Gillespie currently serves as the Lawrence County Commissioner for District 3, representing the southeast corner of the county [1]. The seat is on the ballot in Lawrence County's county general election on August 6, 2026 [3]. Gillespie co-sponsored a county commission resolution as recently as the May 26, 2026 regular session, indicating active current service [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nGillespie is a native of Lawrence County and has lived in Five Points, in the county's third civil district, his entire life except for his period of military service. He attended Loretto High School, graduating in 1965 [1].\n\n## Career\n\nGillespie is a Vietnam-era Navy combat veteran, having served aboard the USS Banner (1966-1967) and subsequently in the \"Brown Water Navy\" on river boats (1968-1969) [1]. He retired from TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in 2001 and continues to do contract work for nuclear power producers, including TVA. He also farms [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nGillespie is currently serving his sixth term as District 3 Commissioner [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Denny Gillespie - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/commissioners/district-3/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Introducing Lawrence County Commissioners - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/news/introducing-lawrence-county-commissioners) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [August 6, 2026 Primary & General Election - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/2026/06/10/august-6-2026-primary-general-election/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [AGENDA: Regular Session, May 26, 2026 - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/2026/05/21/agenda-regular-session-may-26-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_3","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 3"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"DENNIS","fullname":"DENNIS \"DENNY\" GILLESPIE","lastname":"GILLESPIE","middlename":"\"DENNY\"","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_3","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 3","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_3","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_3","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 3","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_3","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_3","office_title":"County Commissioner District 3","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Lawrence County Commissioner for District 3, now serving his sixth term; Vietnam-era Navy veteran and retired TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant employee.","terms":[],"token":"VNnezEmuLS"}