{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBill Phillips is the incumbent Sheriff of Sequatchie County and is seeking reelection on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot as the Republican nominee.[2][3] He faces independent challengers Scott Ogrodowczyk and Clifford Camp.[3]\n\n## Background and education\nPhillips was raised in the south end of Sequatchie County and graduated from Sequatchie County High School in 1985.[1] In 2022 he was reported to be a resident of Lewis Chapel Mountain on the east side of the county.[2]\n\n## Career\nPhillips retired from the Chattanooga Police Department after 28 years of service, with assignments in narcotics and vice, midnight patrol in high-crime areas, and the Homicide Unit beginning in 1994, where he worked as detective, supervisor, and manager; he finished his career restructuring the department's investigative services.[1] He received the Chattanooga Police Department's Outstanding Performance Award and recognition from the U.S. Attorney, the Hamilton County District Attorney, and the U.S. Department of Justice, and has instructed law-enforcement officers across the Southeast in homicide investigation, cold cases, narcotics, explosives, child abuse, domestic violence, and police management.[1]\n\n## Office history\nPhillips ran for Sequatchie County Sheriff in 2018, losing to Coy Swanger, and in 2022 he defeated incumbent Sheriff Swanger in the Republican primary, 1,632 votes to 1,470, and won the office.[2]\n\n## Family\nPhillips has been married to his wife, Wendy, for 34 years; they have four adult children and nine grandchildren and are members of Way of the Cross Baptist Church.[1] He has volunteered with youth sports, serving as president of Sequatchie County G.I.R.L.S. softball and helping establish the county's middle-school softball program.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Bill Phillips for Sequatchie Co Sheriff \u2014 About](https://billforsheriff.com/about) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Sequatchie's incumbent sheriff loses Republican primary, Grundy's survives with four-vote margin \u2014 Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2022/may/04/sequatchies-incumbent-sheriff-loses-republicp/568352/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Sheriff candidates field questions as election day is closer \u2014 The Dunlap-Tribune](https://www.thedunlap-tribune.com/2026/07/21/sheriff-candidates-fi-eld-questions-as-election-day-is-closer/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"BILL","fullname":"BILL PHILLIPS","lastname":"PHILLIPS","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Sequatchie County sheriff and retired 28-year Chattanooga police homicide investigator, seeking reelection in 2026 against two independents.","terms":[],"token":"qbwjRVgZwm"}