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John Whitehead
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
John R. Whitehead (Republican) is a candidate for Knox County Clerk in the 2026 Republican primary in Tennessee, held May 5, 2026. He is one of three Republican candidates running alongside John J. Duncan III and Rodney Lane.
Background and education
Whitehead is a United States Marine and Vietnam War veteran.
Career
Whitehead has worked in the Knox County Assessor's office since 1972. He rose to Chief Deputy Assessor after 1983 and held that role for 18 years before being elected Knox County Property Assessor in 2000. He served four terms as Property Assessor. During his tenure, the office completed four successive countywide reappraisals with zero state audit findings and earned multiple statewide awards for leadership and professionalism. His candidacy for county clerk draws on more than five decades of experience managing public records and large-scale government operations.
Sources
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)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Whitehead”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - 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 (“Whitehead”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Whitehead”and, if needed, select the applicable position.