{"biography":"> **Editorial note \u2014 same-name confusion.** Web searches for \"Don Layton\" nationally surface Donald H. Layton, the former CEO of Freddie Mac (2012\u20132019) and a 30-year JPMorgan Chase executive. That person is not the candidate profiled here. Don A. Layton is a retired Anderson County, Tennessee General Sessions Court judge running for county commission [1][2].\n\n## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDon A. Layton is a Republican candidate for Anderson County Commission District 8 in the county general election on August 6, 2026 [3][4]. His campaign platform, \"Experience and Common Sense,\" centers on quality education, community safety, and fiscal responsibility; he has said \"Quality education for our children and maintaining a safe, stable community for all remain top priorities\" and has called for \"responsible and transparent use of tax revenue\" [4].\n\n## Background and education\nLayton earned a B.S. from Austin Peay State University in 1969 and a J.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1972 [1].\n\n## Career\nHe began as an educator in Oak Ridge public schools and later taught at Roane State Community College, then practiced law and business before being appointed Anderson County clerk and master in 1991; he was recognized as Tennessee's outstanding court clerk in 1997 [4]. He was elected Anderson County General Sessions judge in 1998, was reelected in 2014, and served 24 years on the bench, including a term as president of the State General Sessions Court Conference in 2006 [1][4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Don Layton](https://ballotpedia.org/Don_Layton) \u2014 Ballotpedia, accessed 2026-07\n[2] The Courier News, \"Layton enters county commission race,\" Feb. 2026 \u2014 https://mycouriernews.com/articles/2026/02/10734/layton-enters-county-commission-race\n[3] The Courier News, \"Update: More candidates file for Anderson County races,\" Jan. 2026 \u2014 https://www.mycouriernews.com/articles/2026/01/10600/update-more-candidates-file-for-anderson-county-races\n[4] The Courier News, \"Layton enters county commission race,\" Feb. 2026 \u2014 https://mycouriernews.com/articles/2026/02/10734/layton-enters-county-commission-race","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 8"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Don","fullname":"Don A. Layton","lastname":"Layton","middlename":"A.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","contest_title":"County Commission District 8","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","contest_title":"County Commission District 8","county":"Anderson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":"County Commission District 8","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Retired Anderson County General Sessions judge (1998\u20132022); Republican candidate for County Commission District 8 in the Aug. 6, 2026 election.","terms":[],"token":"dlbMoEBzV5"}