← Back to Dickson County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for County Mayor
general - Partisan - County Mayor
About this office
The county mayor (county executive in some counties) is the county's chief executive and administrative officer. The mayor prepares the annual budget for the county commission, oversees the daily operation of county departments, and represents the county in intergovernmental dealings. It is an administrative office: the commission sets policy, the mayor runs the operation.
Term length: 4 years.
This role calls for
- Executive management of county government across departments such as roads, finance, planning, and emergency management.
- Ability to prepare and defend an annual budget before the county commission.
- Intergovernmental capacity: coordinating with the municipalities within the county, the State of Tennessee, and federal agencies.
- Working familiarity with Tennessee county-government law, the county charter where one exists, and open-meetings and procurement rules.
- Public-facing communication and, when needed, crisis-management skills.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Ben Shepard's biography shows he is a native engineer from a family of public servants who prioritizes safety and communication. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate executive management experience or familiarity with Tennessee county-government law.
Danny W. Williams's biography shows eight years of executive experience as mayor of White Bluff and ownership of a construction firm, alongside service on planning and zoning boards. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in preparing county budgets or familiarity with Tennessee county-government law.
Weaver's biography shows experience managing large entities and small businesses alongside an MBA and education background, relevant to executive management and budget preparation. He has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience with Tennessee county-government law or crisis-management skills.
Caleb M. Wray's biography shows executive management experience through owning a tax practice and consulting business, alongside financial skills relevant to budget preparation. He has served in leadership roles for local organizations like the Dickson County Cancer Auction and the state board for Tennessee Friends of the Library. The record contains no controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience with county government law or crisis management.
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