{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGary Eddings Jr., a Sharon native, is one of two Weakley County commissioners representing District 4 and is a candidate on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot [1].\n\n## Background and education\nEddings completed coursework at Walters State, Dyersburg State and Nashville State Technical community colleges [1].\n\n## Career\nEddings has worked for the Weakley County Municipal Electric System since 1987 as an engineer and lineman [1]. He has served with the Sharon Fire Department since 2002 and has been its fire chief since 2009, and he became chief of the Sharon Police Department in 2023 [1]. He served as a part-time Weakley County Sheriff's deputy for about 20 years and is a licensed AEMT and certified first responder [1]. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at the Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy [1].\n\n## Office history\nEddings was appointed to the commission in May 2017 and elected in the 2018 primary [1]. He serves on the Finance, Ways and Means Committee; Public Works Committee; Fiber Research Committee; Rules Committee; and Beer Board [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nEddings was named First Responder of the Year by Governor Phil Bredesen in 2008 and Officer of the Year for West Tennessee in 2013 [1]. He is co-chairman of the Weakley County Fire Chiefs Association and a law-enforcement liaison for the local prevention coalition [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Weakley County Commissioner Gary Eddings](https://www.weakleycountytn.gov/garyeddings.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_4","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 4"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Gary","fullname":"Gary Eddings Jr","lastname":"Jr","middlename":"Eddings","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_4","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 4","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_4","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_4","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 4","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_4","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_4","office_title":"County Commissioner District 4","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sharon native, longtime Weakley electric-system lineman, Sharon fire and police chief, and District 4 commissioner since 2017.","terms":[],"token":"aiFabgpth2"}