{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"TONY \"CULLY\" CULWELL","chatgptsummary":"Culwell's biography shows current service on the DeKalb County Commission since 2022, demonstrating direct experience with local legislative processes and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience in budget literacy regarding multi-year bond issues or state-mandated continuing education completion.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTony \"Cully\" Culwell is a Republican nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 4 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Republican Greg Matthews and independents Anthony Wayne Poss and Paul Miranda [1]. He and Matthews were unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, where Culwell received 120 votes [2][3].\n\n## Office history\nCulwell currently represents District 4 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":"TONY","lastname":"CULWELL","middlename":"\"CULLY\"","suffix":null,"token":"vek9JPgdlm"},"token":"tony_cully_culwell"},{"candidatename":"GREG MATTHEWS","chatgptsummary":"Greg Matthews's biography shows relevant experience as a current DeKalb County Commissioner representing District 4 since 2022, directly addressing legislative process and constituent relations demands. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior budget literacy or specific policy judgment on countywide matters like land use.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGreg Matthews is a Republican nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 4 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Republican Tony \"Cully\" Culwell and independents Anthony Wayne Poss and Paul Miranda [1]. He and Culwell were unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, which Matthews led in District 4 with 149 votes [2][3].\n\n## Office history\nMatthews currently represents District 4 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":"GREG","lastname":"MATTHEWS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Pn9FOsIqBc"},"token":"greg_matthews"},{"candidatename":"ANTHONY WAYNE POSS","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"ANTHONY","lastname":"POSS","middlename":"WAYNE","suffix":null,"token":"0XWFzRvU4t"},"token":"anthony_wayne_poss"},{"candidatename":"PAUL MIRANDA","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"PAUL","lastname":"MIRANDA","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"YhGfLiDEo3"},"token":"paul_miranda"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_4","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 4"}