{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJohnny 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 [1][2]. His campaign focuses on supporting deputies, strengthening public trust, and public safety [1].\n\n## Career\nRansdell 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].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nIn 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].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Johnny Ransdell announces candidacy for Montgomery County sheriff](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/johnny-ransdell-announces-candidacy-for-montgomery-county-sheriff/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Candidate for Montgomery County sheriff qualifies despite 1991 DUI conviction](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/candidate-for-montgomery-county-sheriff-could-be-afoul-of-rules-with-1991-dui-conviction/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Warnings, suspensions, commendations: What\u2019s in sheriff candidates\u2019 disciplinary records](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/warnings-suspensions-commendations-whats-in-sheriff-candidates-disciplinary-records/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"JOHNNY","fullname":"JOHNNY M. RANSDEL","lastname":"RANSDEL","middlename":"M.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"sheriff","contest_title":"Sheriff","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Independent candidate for Montgomery County Sheriff in 2026; retired Clarksville Police sergeant with 31 years in patrol and major-crimes investigations.","terms":[],"token":"zF2tFQIPxg"}