{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Lisa Vitale","chatgptsummary":"Lisa Vitale's biography shows no prior public service or financial management experience relevant to the Blount County Trustee role. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience in Tennessee property-tax law or county fund investment management.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nLisa Vitale, of Alcoa, filed as a Democrat for Blount County Trustee and ran unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary [1]. She faces Republican incumbent Scott Graves in the August 6, 2026 general election [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County May 5, 2026 candidate petitions](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29506/May-5-2026-Petitions-PDF), Blount County Election Commission\n[2] [August 6, 2026 Official Ballot for Blount County](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF)","firstname":"Lisa","lastname":"Vitale","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"SqVyN2GLDc"},"token":"lisa_vitale"},{"candidatename":"Scott Graves","chatgptsummary":"Scott Graves' twenty-six-year tenure as Blount County Trustee demonstrates direct experience in managing over $275 million annually and maintaining a record of zero audit findings. His background includes an MBA and service on the County Officials Association of Tennessee board. Bio does not indicate specific experience administering tax-relief programs for seniors or detailed knowledge of state investment constraints.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nScott Graves is the incumbent Blount County Trustee, a position he has held since September 1, 2000 [1]. He ran unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary and faces Democrat Lisa Vitale in the August 6, 2026 general election [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nGraves is a lifelong resident of Blount County and holds an MBA from Lincoln Memorial University [1].\n\n## Career\nGraves has more than 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, and management [1]. As trustee, his office collects and accounts for more than $275 million annually in state, federal, and local funds used to operate Blount County government [1]. He serves on the board of the County Officials Association of Tennessee [3].\n\n## Office history\nGraves has served as Blount County Trustee since September 1, 2000, through multiple re-elections [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nGraves' office has had no audit findings during his tenure, according to his own account in a 2022 Daily Times candidate profile [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County Trustee](https://www.blounttn.gov/322/Trustee), Blount County, TN, 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)\n[3] [Scott Graves, Blount County Trustee](https://tncountyofficials.com/coat-board-members/coat-board-photos-2021_0000_scottgravesphoto/), County Officials Association of Tennessee\n[4] [2022 Blount County Primary: County Trustee](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/2022-blount-county-primary-county-trustee/article_b515314e-aabe-54e6-a102-f287dc7b49ee.html), The Daily Times","firstname":"Scott","lastname":"Graves","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"nnGKdFQRBo"},"token":"scott_graves"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"trustee","o.office":null,"office":"trustee","officedescription":"The trustee is the county's banker \u2014 collecting county property taxes, keeping and investing county funds, and disbursing money on the county's authority. It handles large sums of public money and is a fiduciary role.","officequalities":"- Financial trustworthiness: the trustee is the county's banker and custodian of tax revenue, handling the county's property-tax collections.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee property-tax law, including tax-relief programs for seniors, disabled residents, and veterans.\n- Investment and cash-management competence for county funds under state-law constraints.\n- Monthly settlement and reporting discipline.\n- Accessible customer service for taxpayers paying bills, disputing assessments, or seeking relief, and the ability to administer a partly-online operation.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Trustee","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 Trustee"}