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JOSEPH "JOEY" WILBURN
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Joseph "Joey" Wilburn is the incumbent Macon County Sheriff and the Republican nominee for re-election in the August 6, 2026 county general election 12. He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary with 3,214 votes (98.3%), with 55 write-in votes recorded 2. An independent candidate, William D. Tuck, is also on the general-election ballot 3. Wilburn has said his central concern is reducing recidivism: "I think the State of Tennessee alone spends somewhere around $500 million on incarceration" 1.
Background
Wilburn enlisted in the National Guard immediately after high school in 2004, completed basic training that December, and deployed to Iraq with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment 1.
Career
Wilburn joined the Macon County Sheriff's Department in September 2006, following his military service, and later was elected sheriff 1.
Legislative record and accomplishments
As sheriff, Wilburn established the Babynov work-release program, under which participants earn wages while incarcerated, save money for reentry, and pay outstanding fines and fees; he says the program has recovered about $100,000 in fees and fines 1. He has emphasized addiction treatment through a recovery-court approach, saying, "These are human beings who have had it hard somewhere down the road, and I want to do what I can to change that for them" 1. He supports license-plate-reader (FLOCK) technology for locating abducted persons and fugitives and defends in-vehicle laptop systems for deputies 1.
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 “WILBURN”, 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 (“WILBURN”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “WILBURN”and, if needed, select the applicable position.