{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"David Wells","chatgptsummary":"David Wells' biography shows relevant experience as an incumbent Blount County Commissioner and a long-term administrator at Emerald Youth Foundation, demonstrating familiarity with legislative processes and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience in county budgeting, tax rate setting, or land use policy within Tennessee law.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid Wells is the incumbent Blount County Commissioner for District 10, Seat B, and is unopposed as the Republican Party nominee on the August 6, 2026 county general election ballot for a new term [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nWells grew up on Disco Loop Road in Friendsville with his parents, Tater and Joann Wells, and a sister, before later living in Rockford; he and his wife, JJ Hearon Wells, now live on the edge of Maryville and Friendsville [3]. He attended Friendsville Elementary (K-8) and William Blount High School, and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee [3].\n\n## Career\nWells was general manager of the Foothills Broadcasting Radio Group in Knoxville from 1996 to 2011. Since 2011 he has served as Vice President of Administration at Emerald Youth Foundation, an inner-city youth ministry in Knoxville [3]. He also serves as worship leader/coordinator at Middlesettlements United Methodist Church [3].\n\n## Family\nHis wife, JJ, has taught kindergarten in Blount County Schools for more than 26 years. They have two sons: Carson, a Carson-Newman University graduate whom Wells says is considering medical school, and Dawson, a William Blount High School senior [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County primary fields are set, The Daily Times](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/blount-county-primary-fields-are-set/article_c928c6a7-a486-43e4-823e-3028b38b0891.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [August 6, 2026 Official Ballot for Blount County](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [About David \u2014 David Wells for County Commission District 10](https://servingblount.org/?page_id=15) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"David","lastname":"Wells","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"QCOPig09zb"},"token":"david_wells"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_10_seat_b","officedescription":"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.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":null,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County Commission District 10, Seat B"}