{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jay Cooper","chatgptsummary":"Jay Cooper self-reports a desire to bring Christian family values to his leadership, protect the community's character through responsible growth, and advocate for seniors, families, and local businesses. He emphasizes a service mindset over partisan politics. The biography does not indicate prior elected or governmental experience.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJay Cooper is a Republican candidate for Fayette County Commissioner, District 8, Position 2, in Tennessee [1]. He won a contested May 5, 2026 Republican primary, defeating Jeff Fisher 132 votes to 67 (66.33% to 33.67%) [2]. No Democratic candidate qualified for the race, leaving Cooper unopposed for the August 6, 2026 Fayette County general election [2]. In campaign materials, Cooper describes his candidacy this way: \"I am running for Fayette County Commissioner, District 8, Position 2 and it is my desire to bring Christian family values into my leadership position, protecting our community's character with responsible growth and advocating for seniors, families, and local businesses. This campaign is about service - not politics.\" [3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Fayette County Election Commission, 2026 Primary Election Summary Report](https://fayettetn.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/26-5-5-Primary-Totals.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [Facebook campaign statement](https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10230027353123154&set=pcb.1960899541189412) - accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"Jay","lastname":"Cooper","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"3TuhR64rQy"},"token":"jay_cooper"},{"candidatename":"Jeff Fisher","chatgptsummary":"Jeff Fisher currently serves as an alderman for the Town of Oakland, giving him experience participating in municipal legislative processes and policy decisions. His role as alderman also involves working with other council members and voting on local ordinances, providing legislative process experience. He self-reports that he will demand accountability from developers, oppose growth that strains infrastructure, and fight industrial solar farms that convert farmland. He self-describes his constituency as residents of Hickory Withe, Eads, and Oakland, and cites a 25-year local residency.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"**Campaign***\n*I am proud to announce that I am a candidate for Commissioner of District 8, Position 2, representing Hickory Withe, Eads, and Oakland.\nThis campaign is about protecting our way of life and standing up for the people who call this district home. I look forward to serving every citizen in District 8 and being a strong, consistent voice for our families, landowners, and long-time residents.\nIf elected, I will demand accountability from developers and builders. Growth should never come at the expense of our infrastructure, our farmland, or our quality of life. I will fight against the unchecked spread of industrial solar farms that are consuming valuable agricultural land and changing the character of our rural community.\nFayette County has long been known for its fertile farmland, open spaces, and country charm \u2014 and I intend to help keep it that way.\nMany of us moved here to escape overcrowding, overdevelopment, and the loss of community identity seen in surrounding areas. Long-time residents have remained here for generations because they value country living, responsible growth, and respect for property rights.\nThey are willing to stand up and fight for it \u2014 and so am I.\nThis is not just where I live. This is my home, and it has been for 25 years. My roots are here. My commitment is here. And I am not going anywhere.\nI humbly ask for your support and your vote so that together we can protect what makes District 8 special and build a stronger, more responsible future for tomorrow.\n*\n\n\n## Sources\n[Facebook Campaign](https://www.facebook.com/groups/930878546986372/user/61564983881094/)\n\n[Facebook post](https://www.facebook.com/groups/930878546986372/posts/33969449822702485/)\n","firstname":"Jeff","lastname":"Fisher","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"x8P0swKfKz"},"token":"jeff_fisher"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"8","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 8","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_8_position_2","office":"county_commission_district_8_position_2","officedescription":"Fayette County Commissioners are members of the county's legislative body. Fayette has 14 single-member districts; some districts elect two commissioners at-large within the district (the second position is noted). The County Commission passes resolutions and ordinances, approves the annual county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and enacts countywide policy. Each commissioner represents roughly 2,000 residents \u2014 a much smaller constituency than in urban counties, where retail relationship-based politics has more weight. Members must complete at least seven hours of continuing education annually through the UT County Technical Assistance Service.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: commissioners set the property-tax rate and approve the county budget.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances.\n- Constituent relations in a district of roughly 2,000 residents \u2014 retail, relationship-based politics.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner District 8 Position 2","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 8 Position 2"}