{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRandy L. Bales is the Republican nominee for Jefferson County Mayor in the August 6, 2026 county general election, opposed by independent candidate Carl Robert Eggers Sr.[1] He won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary with 4,261 votes (about 63%), defeating Austin Brooks.[2] In candidate forums, Bales called for concentrating commercial, industrial, and tourism development along Highways 92, 11E, and 25/70 and near interstate exits to diversify county revenue while preserving the county's rural character, citing an estimate that \"for every dollar that a residence brings in, infrastructure costs $1.07.\"[3] He expressed caution about a proposed mineral-extraction tax, saying he \"would be scared to put that many good paying jobs in jeopardy\" without more information, and agreed the county zoning office needs additional staff.[3]\n\n## Background and education\nBales lives in the New Market area of Jefferson County, where he farms.[3]\n\n## Career\nBales is a farmer.[3]\n\n## Office history\nBefore running for mayor, Bales served three terms as Jefferson County Commissioner for District 7; he chose to run for mayor rather than seek re-election to his commission seat.[4] As a commissioner he was appointed to county committees, including committees overseeing county facilities and property.[5]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Sample Ballot, Jefferson County TN, August 6, 2026](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JCTN_August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Bales wins Republican nomination for County Mayor](https://www.standardbanner.com/articles/news/bales-wins-republican-nomination-for-county-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [County mayor candidates share views (The Standard Banner)](https://www.standardbanner.com/articles/featured-stories/top-story-county-mayor-candidates-share-views/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [In The News, Randy Bales for Jefferson County Mayor](https://www.randybales.org/news-press-releases) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[5] [Jefferson County Commissions/Boards/Committees (April 2026)](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Alpha-Chart-April-2026.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"RANDY","fullname":"RANDY L. BALES","lastname":"BALES","middlename":"L.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican nominee for Jefferson County Mayor; a New Market farmer and three-term District 7 county commissioner who won the May 2026 GOP primary with about 63%.","terms":[],"token":"xlZBMoWoGQ"}