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JOHNNY M. RANSDEL
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Johnny Ransdell, 55, is an independent candidate for Montgomery County Sheriff in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against Republican Mike Oliver and independent Dexter Mines 12. His campaign focuses on supporting deputies, strengthening public trust, and public safety 1.
Career
Ransdell has more than 31 years of law enforcement experience 1. He worked briefly as a reserve deputy at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office before joining the Clarksville Police Department in September 1994, serving in District 1 patrol and later the Street Crimes, Special Operations, and Major Crimes units on narcotics, gang, and homicide investigations in partnership with federal task forces; he retired from CPD in June 2025 1.
Documented disputes and controversies
In 2026 a question arose over Ransdell's eligibility because Tennessee's P.O.S.T. Commission bars sheriff candidates with convictions relating to liquor, among other categories, and Ransdell had a DUI conviction from August 1991 when he was 21 and stationed at Fort Campbell 3. Ransdell argued the DUI is a traffic offense; a P.O.S.T. spokesman said the commission has always treated DUI as liquor-related 3. He disclosed the conviction on his 1994 CPD application and received a waiver; P.O.S.T. found no DUI conviction on record and he was certified for the ballot 3. A separate review of candidates' personnel records reported one disciplinary action for Ransdell: a December 2018 one-day unpaid leave for reporting to duty with a .029% BAC after being unexpectedly called in, alongside multiple commendations 4.
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 “RANSDEL”, 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 (“RANSDEL”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “RANSDEL”and, if needed, select the applicable position.