{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"BRIAN A WILLIAMS","chatgptsummary":"Brian A. Williams's biography shows fifteen years of law enforcement service within DeKalb County, including roles as patrol deputy, detective, captain, and current chief deputy. This background demonstrates familiarity with local criminal justice operations and jail oversight. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and completed the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy. The record documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience developing an operating budget or coordinating with neighboring county agencies.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBrian A. Williams is the Republican nominee for DeKalb County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against independent Keneth Whitehead to succeed retiring Sheriff Patrick Ray [1][2]. He was unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary [3]. Williams currently serves as chief deputy of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nWilliams, 40, was born and raised in the Alexandria community of DeKalb County; his parents are Mike and Vickie Williams and Linda Williams of Alexandria, and he attends Helton Creek The Baptist Church [2]. In 2023 he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Middle Tennessee State University, and he graduated from the Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy at Walters State Community College in 2011 [2].\n\n## Career\nWilliams began at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department as a correctional officer in 2010 and has since served as patrol deputy, patrol sergeant, training officer, detective, captain, and chief deputy, with 15 years in law enforcement [2]. He has also served 14 years with the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and, since 2021, as an emergency medical responder with DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services [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] [Brian Williams Announces Candidacy for DeKalb County Sheriff in 2026 GOP Primary \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/brian-williams-announces-candidacy-for-dekalb-county-sheriff-in-2026-elections/) \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","firstname":"BRIAN","lastname":"WILLIAMS","middlename":"A","suffix":null,"token":"K4PFCP0Vze"},"token":"brian_a_williams"},{"candidatename":"KENETH LEE WHITEHEAD","chatgptsummary":"Whitehead's twenty-six-year law enforcement career demonstrates relevant experience in supervision, jail operations, and specialized training, including a state award for school resource officer work. His background includes advancing from correctional officer to deputy supervisor within DeKalb County and serving as a firearms instructor. Bio does not indicate prior experience managing the full sheriff's office budget or coordinating with municipal police departments at an executive level.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKeneth Lee Whitehead is an independent candidate for DeKalb County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against Republican Brian Williams [1][2]. He announced his candidacy in January 2026 and pledged to serve \"with integrity, honesty, dedication, and professionalism\" [2].\n\n## Background and education\nWhitehead is a DeKalb County resident and the son of Hilda Whitehead and the late Matthew Marshall Whitehead of Baxter [2]. He graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2003, in the top five of his class [2].\n\n## Career\nWhitehead has worked in law enforcement for 26 years [2]. At the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department he advanced from correctional officer to deputy, patrol supervisor, school resource officer at DeKalb County High School, and school resource officer supervisor, and was named a state school resource officer of the year [2]. He is currently the school resource officer at Dibrell Elementary with the Warren County Sheriff's Department [1][2]. His certifications include firearms instructor and training in standardized field sobriety testing, domestic violence, clandestine laboratories, drug investigation, and school resource officer work [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] [Keneth Whitehead Announces Candidacy for Sheriff \u2014 WJLE Radio](https://www.wjle.com/keneth-whitehead-announces-candidacy-for-sheriff/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n","firstname":"KENETH","lastname":"WHITEHEAD","middlename":"LEE","suffix":null,"token":"CeGAHhgILn"},"token":"keneth_lee_whitehead"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":null,"office":"sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"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":"Sheriff"}