{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEdwin J. (E.J.) Swatsell, a Republican, is a first-time candidate for Greene County Commission District 4 (three seats) on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot [1][2]. He led the District 4 Republican primary field with 684 votes; because no Democratic or independent candidates filed in the district, the three Republican nominees are effectively unopposed in the general election [3].\n\n## Background and career\nSwatsell is an ordained minister who serves as Director of Spiritual Life and Special Projects at Tusculum University [1]. He was associate pastor of Cedar Creek Church of God in Greeneville from 2010 to 2019, serves in the young-adult ministry at First Church of God in Greeneville, and has been a chaplain for the Greeneville Fire Department since 2016 [1]. He owns and operates Back Porch Antiques and is a fourth-generation farmer who raises beef cattle on a 100-year-old family farm [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Greene County Incumbents, First-Time Candidate Announce Election Plans - WGRV](https://wgrv.com/2025/11/04/incumbents-newcomer-announce-election-plans/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Greene County Election Information / Sample Ballot, Aug. 6, 2026](https://www.greenecountytngov.com/election-information/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [County Commission Will See New And Familiar Faces After Tuesday's Primary - WGRV](https://wgrv.com/county-commission-will-see-new-and-familiar-faces-after-tuesdays-primary/) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_4","county":"Greene","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 4"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Edwin","fullname":"Edwin J. (E.J.) Swatsell","lastname":"Swatsell","middlename":"J. (E.J.)","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_4","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 4","county":"Greene","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":"Greene","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":"Republican first-time candidate for Greene County Commission District 4; ordained minister, Tusculum University staff member, antiques-shop owner and farmer.","terms":[],"token":"sUJW8rxDUo"}