{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Robbie Bennett","chatgptsummary":"Robbie Bennett's biography shows two terms of service on the Blount County Commission, including work on budget matters that lowered the tax rate and legislative votes on land use. He currently serves on the Beer Board and Education Committee, demonstrating familiarity with county operations and constituent relations. Bio does not indicate experience in state-required continuing education or multi-year bond authorization.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRobbie Bennett is the incumbent Republican Blount County Commissioner for District 4, Seat A, and the Republican nominee on the Aug. 6, 2026 general-election ballot, facing Democrat Robin Cox [1][2]. He is seeking a third term [3].\n\n## Background and education\nBennett has lived in Blount County his whole life [3].\n\n## Career\nBennett has been an educator in Blount County Schools for 26 years, serving as head baseball coach for 25 years and as assistant principal/athletic director for 15 years [3].\n\n## Office history\nBennett has served two terms on the Blount County Commission. He currently serves on the Commission's Beer Board, Commission Workshop Committee, and Education Committee, per the county's official commissioners listing [4].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nPer his Daily Times candidate profile, during his two terms the county kept its tax rate at $2.47 before lowering it to the certified rate of $1.59 in 2023; he says he voted against cluster housing and for a resolution increasing minimum lot sizes to help control growth [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [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[2] [May 5, 2026 Official Ballot for Blount County](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29846/May-5-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [The Daily Times \u2014 Hats in the Ring: County Board of Commissioners Seat 4-A](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/blount-county-board-of-commissioners-seat-4-a/pdf_fba8c005-cc05-48cb-8cd7-14067ef42fd0.html) (Marcus Fitzsimmons) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [Blount County, TN \u2014 Commissioners](https://www.blounttn.gov/835/Commissioners) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"Robbie","lastname":"Bennett","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Wv9AKcexLK"},"token":"robbie_bennett"},{"candidatename":"Robin Cox","chatgptsummary":"Robin Cox's biography identifies her as a Democratic candidate for Blount County Commission District 4, Seat A, facing incumbent Robbie Bennett in the August 2026 election. The text provides no details regarding her prior policy judgment, budget literacy, legislative experience, or constituent relations work relevant to county governance. Bio does not indicate experience with Tennessee county-government law or state-required continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRobin Cox is the Democratic candidate for Blount County Commission District 4, Seat A, in the August 6, 2026 general election. She faces incumbent Republican Robbie Bennett, who defeated challengers Ron Blair and Farrah Williams-Deck in a three-way Republican primary on May 5 [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County primary fields are set](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/blount-county-primary-fields-are-set/article_c928c6a7-a486-43e4-823e-3028b38b0891.html) (The Daily Times) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-09\n[2] [August 6, 2026 Official Ballot for Blount County](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF) (Blount County Election Commission) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-09","firstname":"Robin","lastname":"Cox","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"mLLF3bRPya"},"token":"robin_cox"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_4","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":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-02","title":"Blount County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF"},"title":"County Commission District 4, Seat A"}