{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nChris Sutherland is the Lawrence County Commissioner for District 6, representing the West Point and Iron City communities [1]. He qualified as a Republican candidate for re-election to that seat in the 2026 election cycle, ahead of the August 6, 2026 county general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\nSutherland moved to Lawrence County in 1959 at age six, when his father, Dr. W.S. Sutherland, began practicing medicine there. He attended a local Seventh-day Adventist school before completing high school at Harbert Hills Academy in Olive Hill, Tennessee [1].\n\n## Career\nSutherland spent 32 years as a commercial airline pilot with American Airlines, flying domestic and international routes; in his final years he commanded a 737-800 with 168-seat capacity. He retired in 2016 and returned to Lawrence County in 2017 [1].\n\n## Office history\nAfter returning to the county, Sutherland decided to run for County Commissioner in District 6, saying \"I didn't want to come home and not be in\" his community's affairs, per the county's official commissioner biography [1]. He serves as Vice President of the West Point Community Club and is active in the County Council of Community Clubs [1].\n\n## Family\nSutherland is married to Kendra Kay Sutherland; they have three sons and four grandchildren [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Chris Sutherland - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/commissioners/district-6/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Candidates Qualify to Compete in Upcoming Elections - Main Street Media of Tennessee (Lawrence County Advocate & Democrat)](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/lawrencecountyadvocate/candidates-qualify-to-compete-in-upcoming-elections/) - accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_6","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 6"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"CHRIS","fullname":"CHRIS SUTHERLAND","lastname":"SUTHERLAND","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_6","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 6","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_6","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_6","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 6","county":"Lawrence","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_6","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_6","office_title":"County Commissioner District 6","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Lawrence County Commissioner for District 6 (West Point, Iron City); retired 32-year American Airlines pilot seeking re-election as the Republican nominee in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"rsl6dvcW0U"}