← Back to Anderson County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for County Commission District 2
general - Partisan - County Commissioner
Elect 2 candidates
About this office
A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.
Term length: 4 years.
This role calls for
- Policy judgment on countywide matters — budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues — within Tennessee county-government law.
- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.
- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.
- Constituent relations in the district — case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.
- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Denise Palmer's biography shows relevant experience as an incumbent Anderson County Commissioner and Chairman, demonstrating familiarity with budget oversight, land use, and constituent relations through work on street safety, road maintenance, and the Opioid Settlement Committee. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience drafting county ordinances or completing state-mandated UT CTAS continuing education.
Michael Foster's biography shows relevant experience for county commissioner duties through his current role as City Manager of Rocky Top and his service on Anderson County Commission committees since 2025. His certifications in public management and municipal finance align with budget literacy requirements, while his committee work demonstrates familiarity with legislative processes and constituent relations. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience with state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS or multi-year bond issue authorization.
Tina Graham Targonski's biography shows eight years of Army intelligence service, law enforcement training, and hotel management, suggesting skills in discipline and constituent relations relevant to district representation. The record notes no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or Tennessee land-use policy.
Know something about this race we don't?
Submit a contribution →