{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"CEYLON TAYLOR JR.","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"CEYLON","lastname":"JR.","middlename":"TAYLOR","suffix":null,"token":"eIUhaIcaVG"},"token":"ceylon_taylor_jr"},{"candidatename":"DANIEL D. CRIPPS","chatgptsummary":"Daniel D. Cripps currently serves a 2022-2026 term on the DeKalb County Commission, demonstrating direct experience with local legislative processes and constituent relations. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy or completion of state-required continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDaniel D. Cripps is a Republican nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 1 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Republican Randy Slager and independents Matthew Antoniak and Ceylon Taylor Jr. [1]. He and Slager were unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, where Cripps received 113 votes [2][3].\n\n## Office history\nCripps currently represents District 1 on the DeKalb County Commission, holding a 2022-2026 term [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [New County Mayor and Sheriff to be Elected August 6 \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/new-county-mayor-and-sheriff-to-be-elected-august-6-early-voting-begins-friday-july-17/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Hale and Green Unseat Merriman in Tuesday GOP Primary \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/hale-and-green-unseat-merriman-in-tuesday-gop-primary-to-win-nomination-for-county-commission-district-5/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Stage Set for May 5th DeKalb Republican and Democratic Primaries \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/stage-set-for-may-5th-dekalb-republican-and-democratic-primaries-with-only-one-contested-district-race/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [DeKalb County Election Commission \u2014 Elected Officials](https://www.dekalbelections.com/elected-officials/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"DANIEL","lastname":"CRIPPS","middlename":"D.","suffix":null,"token":"wZ9nKOETgc"},"token":"daniel_d_cripps"},{"candidatename":"MATTHEW ANTONIAK","chatgptsummary":"Matthew Antoniak's biography shows he is an independent candidate for DeKalb County Commission District 1 in the August 2026 election. It documents a dispute where his qualifying petition was initially rejected due to a signature error, requiring litigation to secure his ballot placement. Bio does not indicate prior experience with county budgeting or legislative committee work.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMatthew Antoniak is an independent candidate for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 1 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running alongside Republicans Daniel Cripps and Randy Slager and independent Ceylon Taylor Jr. [1][2]. Antoniak has said he chose to run as an independent \"because I want to run as a voice for the people of my district, not a voice beholden to a party\" [2].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nAntoniak's place on the ballot was secured only after litigation. His qualifying petition was initially deemed invalid by the DeKalb County Election Commission in March 2026 because it lacked his personal signature; his father, Michael Antoniak, had signed the candidate line on his behalf after, the family said, following instructions from election-office staff [2]. Administrator of Elections Dustin Estes acknowledged the office had given the family \"bad advice\" but said the petition could not be accepted after the February 19 qualifying deadline [2]. Antoniak filed a complaint in DeKalb County Chancery Court on March 23, 2026, and on April 9 Chancellor Ronald Thurman signed an agreed order finding the petition \"satisfies and comports fully with all of the statutory requisites\" and directing that Antoniak's name be placed on the August ballot; the election commission voted not to oppose the order, and litigation costs were taxed to the commission and county government [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [New County Mayor and Sheriff to be Elected August 6 \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/new-county-mayor-and-sheriff-to-be-elected-august-6-early-voting-begins-friday-july-17/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Chancellor Approves Agreed Order to Place Matthew Antoniak's Name on August Ballot \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/chancellor-approves-agreed-order-to-place-matthew-antoniaks-name-on-august-ballot-for-county-commission-district-1/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"MATTHEW","lastname":"ANTONIAK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"htg1AZSCQY"},"token":"matthew_antoniak"},{"candidatename":"RANDY SLAGER","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"RANDY","lastname":"SLAGER","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"vLDNoSv9QT"},"token":"randy_slager"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_1","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":2,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"dekalb County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.dekalbelections.com/uploads/files/99cd2fd2ddf6757756b2f868b48f74b0005e871d.pdf"},"title":"County Commissioner District 1"}