{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JEFF BARNES","chatgptsummary":"Jeff Barnes'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 prior budget literacy or specific policy judgment on countywide matters like land use and taxes.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJeff Barnes is a Democratic nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 6 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Democrat Keith Vencel and Republicans Andy Pack and Bruce Parsley [1]. He was nominated in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary [2].\n\n## Office history\nBarnes currently represents District 6 on the DeKalb County Commission as a Democrat, holding a 2022-2026 term [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] [DeKalb County Election Commission \u2014 Elected Officials](https://www.dekalbelections.com/elected-officials/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"JEFF","lastname":"BARNES","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"4tSnNO2rIn"},"token":"jeff_barnes"},{"candidatename":"ANDY PACK","chatgptsummary":"Andy Pack's biography shows current service on the DeKalb County Commission, demonstrating familiarity with local legislative processes and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience managing county budgets or completing state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAndy Pack is a Republican nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 6 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with Democrats Jeff Barnes and Keith Vencel and fellow Republican Bruce Parsley [1]. He and Parsley were unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary [2][3].\n\n## Office history\nPack currently represents District 6 on the DeKalb County Commission; he was appointed to the seat to fill the unexpired term of Justin Adcock, who resigned [4][5].\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] [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[5] [DeKalb County Election Commission \u2014 Elected Officials](https://www.dekalbelections.com/elected-officials/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"ANDY","lastname":"PACK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"HUnc4Fj72m"},"token":"andy_pack"},{"candidatename":"KEITH L. VENCEL","chatgptsummary":"Keith L. Vencel's biography shows twenty years of Air Force leadership and fifteen years in human resources and training at major organizations, demonstrating administrative discipline and constituent service relevant to county governance. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with Tennessee county budgeting or legislative ordinance drafting.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKeith L. Vencel is a Democratic nominee for one of two DeKalb County Commission seats in District 6 in the August 6, 2026 general election, running with fellow Democrat Jeff Barnes and Republicans Andy Pack and Bruce Parsley [1][2]. He was nominated in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary [2]. Vencel has said his concerns include the county's planned jail project and its cost, road maintenance, and services for disabled veterans, senior citizens, and children [3].\n\n## Background and education\nVencel describes himself as a U.S. Air Force veteran, educator, and businessperson [3]. He holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Service, and an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice [3].\n\n## Career\nVencel served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a commissioned officer after prior enlisted service, and is a disabled veteran [3]. He worked 15 years as an educator and trainer at universities and healthcare organizations \u2014 including Vanderbilt University Medical Center \u2014 in human resources, information technology, talent management, and research and development [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] [Vencel Announces Candidacy for County Commission-District 6 \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/vencel-announces-candidacy-for-county-commission-district-6-in-dekalb-democratic-primary/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"KEITH","lastname":"VENCEL","middlename":"L.","suffix":null,"token":"59mUU2BgFi"},"token":"keith_l_vencel"},{"candidatename":"BRUCE PARSLEY","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"BRUCE","lastname":"PARSLEY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"VRqRRnLGZA"},"token":"bruce_parsley"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_6","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 6"}