{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"EDEN NOKES","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEden Nokes is an independent candidate for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 3 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against Republicans Bradley Hendrix and Don Rigsby and Democrats Jack Barton and Ronnie Goodwin [1][2].\n\n## Career\nNokes is a clerk for Town & Lake Realty & Auction and has managed Bell Street Apartments since 2018, work she has described as involving budgets, planning, and public input [3].\n\n## Office history\nNokes sought appointment to fill District 3 commission vacancies twice in 2025 \u2014 first after the resignation of Susannah Cripps and again in October 2025 after the resignation of Tony Luna \u2014 but was not selected [3].\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] [Four Seek Appointment to Fill Vacancy on County Commission \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/four-seek-appointment-to-fill-vacancy-on-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"EDEN","lastname":"NOKES","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"aKpLyhRkF7"},"token":"eden_nokes"},{"candidatename":"RONNIE GOODWIN","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRonnie Goodwin is a Democratic nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 3 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Democrat Jack Barton, Republicans Bradley Hendrix and Don Rigsby, and independent Eden Nokes [1][2]. He was nominated in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary [3]. Announcing his campaign in October 2025, Goodwin said his central concerns are rising county property taxes, what he described as \"mismanagement and unneeded spending\" reflected in frequent budget amendments, and his opposition to construction of a new prison/jail facility, noting that county voters rejected it in a referendum [4].\n\n## Background\nGoodwin lives in Smithville with his wife, Deborah; both are retired [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] [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[3] [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[4] [Goodwin Announces Bid for County Commission-District 3 \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/goodwin-announces-bid-for-county-commission-district-3-in-2026-dekalb-democratic-primary/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"RONNIE","lastname":"GOODWIN","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Il9XQPtFLc"},"token":"ronnie_goodwin"},{"candidatename":"JACK BARTON","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJack Barton is a Democratic nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 3 in the August 6, 2026 general election, having been nominated in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary alongside Ronnie Goodwin [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nBarton previously served a total of 12 years on the DeKalb County Commission \u2014 two terms representing District 2 and one term in District 3 \u2014 spending 10 of those years on the budget committee [3][4]. In October 2025 the county commission appointed him, by a 10-2 vote, to fill the unexpired District 3 term of Tony Luna, who had resigned; he was sworn in by County Mayor Matt Adcock [3]. Barton is a citizen member and secretary of the DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission and a citizen member of the county ethics committee [3][4].\n\n## Background\nBarton has lived in DeKalb County for about 25 years and is the father of three [3]. He served nine years as president and coordinator of the Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree, stepping down in 2017, and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Fiddler 5K [3].\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] [Jack Barton Returns to County Commission \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/jack-barton-returns-to-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Four Seek Appointment to Fill Vacancy on County Commission \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/four-seek-appointment-to-fill-vacancy-on-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"JACK","lastname":"BARTON","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"czbB0v9vPH"},"token":"jack_barton"},{"candidatename":"DON RIGSBY","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"DON","lastname":"RIGSBY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"VSfapLVoq5"},"token":"don_rigsby"},{"candidatename":"BRADLEY HENDRIX","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBradley Hendrix is a Republican nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 3 in the August 6, 2026 general election, having won nomination in the unopposed May 5, 2026 Republican primary alongside Don Rigsby [1][2][3].\n\n## Office history\nHendrix previously served eight years on the DeKalb County Commission, from 2010 to 2018, and has said he favors term limits [4]. In October 2025 he was among four District 3 residents who sought appointment to fill a commission vacancy created by the resignation of Tony Luna [4].\n\n## Career\nHendrix is director of the alternative school (alternative learning center) for the DeKalb County School District [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [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[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] [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[4] [Four Seek Appointment to Fill Vacancy on County Commission \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/four-seek-appointment-to-fill-vacancy-on-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"BRADLEY","lastname":"HENDRIX","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"OG5xvBNawI"},"token":"bradley_hendrix"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_3","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 3"}