← Back to DeKalb County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for County Commissioner District 3
general - Partisan - County Commissioner
Elect 2 candidates
About this office
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.
Term length: 4 years.
This role calls for
- Policy judgment on countywide matters — budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues — within Tennessee county-government law.
- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.
- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.
- Constituent relations in the district — case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.
- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Eden Nokes's biography shows relevant experience managing budgets and planning for a real estate firm and apartment complex since 2018. Records indicate she sought two county commission appointments in 2025 but was not selected. Bio does not indicate legislative drafting or constituent case-work experience.
Ronnie Goodwin's biography shows he is a retired resident of Smithville running for DeKalb County Commission District 3. He has publicly addressed county property taxes and budget management while opposing a new jail facility. The record contains no mention of disciplinary issues or controversies. Bio does not indicate prior legislative experience or specific budget literacy experience.
Jack Barton's biography shows twelve years on the DeKalb County Commission, including ten years on the budget committee and service as secretary of the Regional Planning Commission, directly addressing the role's demands for policy judgment, budget literacy, and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with drafting ordinances or completing state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.
Bradley Hendrix's eight-year tenure on the DeKalb County Commission demonstrates direct experience with local legislative processes and constituent relations. He currently directs an alternative school within the district, indicating familiarity with county education services. The biography contains no record of disciplinary action or controversy. Bio does not indicate experience in budget literacy or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.
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