{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Stephen Hurley","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Stephen","lastname":"Hurley","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"AALJT4wOJc"},"token":"stephen_hurley"},{"candidatename":"Tim Shrout","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Tim","lastname":"Shrout","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"fUxvAxBvEn"},"token":"tim_shrout"},{"candidatename":"Michael Cavins","chatgptsummary":"Michael Cavins brings a law-enforcement background as a former Tazewell patrol officer and current Tennessee game warden, alongside a police academy education. His biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience in managing a county jail, overseeing a sheriff's office budget, or coordinating with municipal police departments.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMichael Cavins is a candidate for Claiborne County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against Stephen Hurley and Tim Shrout for the seat being vacated by retiring Sheriff Bob Brooks [1].\n\n## Background and education\nCavins is a lifelong Claiborne County resident who has raised his family there with his wife, Pam. He previously owned and operated a small local logging business [1]. He earned a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries from Lincoln Memorial University in 2007, then completed the Walters State Police Academy that same year [1].\n\n## Career\nCavins served as a patrol officer for the town of Tazewell for two years beginning in 2008. Since 2010, he has worked as a game warden for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nCavins says his candidacy centers on \"a Sheriff's Office that is approachable, visible and accountable,\" pointing to his experience patrolling rural communities and working directly with families. He says internal department leadership should hold that \"integrity, professionalism and accountability must be standard,\" and pledges to \"work hard for you, I will listen to you and I will serve with integrity\" [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] Claiborne Progress, \"Cavins, Hurley, Shrout vying to be next sheriff,\" July 14, 2026. https://claiborneprogress.net/2026/07/14/cavins-hurley-shrout-vying-to-be-next-sheriff/","firstname":"Michael","lastname":"Cavins","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"55i34WTqQK"},"token":"michael_cavins"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":null,"office":"sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"claiborne County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://claibornevotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Claiborne-Newspaper-8-6-26.pdf"},"title":"Sheriff"}