{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"TERRY JONES","chatgptsummary":"Jones's biography shows executive management experience leading Millington and directing city employees through performance-based promotion reforms. He also demonstrates intergovernmental capacity as a Tennessee State Guard officer. The record contains no mention of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget defense, Tennessee county law, or crisis management.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"Jones said he relies often on his military experiences in leading the city. He said he has tried to shift the city employees' promotion system away from a longevity-based system to one more dependant on performance.\n\nJones, 53, has a busy schedule. In addition to serving as Millington's full-time mayor and as an officer in the Tennessee State Guard, he is the father of six children ranging in ages 29 to 19 months and has two grandchildren.\n\n\"My wife remarked to me once that it was tough being a single parent,\" Jones said. \"I have had to allow time for the family as well.","firstname":"Terry","lastname":"Jones","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"0eyz4QcGVN"},"token":"terry_jones"},{"candidatename":"DAVID WAMBLE","chatgptsummary":"David Wamble's biography shows relevant experience for county executive duties through his current service on the Giles County Commission and prior four-year tenure on the School Board. His background includes fifteen years with UPS and two decades owning a local business, alongside part-time teaching at TCAT. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience managing an annual budget before a commission or familiarity with Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid Wamble is a Republican candidate (nominated by caucus) for Giles County Executive on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot [1][3]. He currently serves his second term on the Giles County Commission, representing District 2 [1][2]. His stated priorities are \"investing in local growth, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting education and workforce development\" [1].\n\n## Background and education\nWamble is described as a \"seventh-generation Giles Countian\" [1].\n\n## Career\nWamble spent 15 years with United Parcel Service (UPS), and for the past 20 years has owned and operated Wamble Heating and Air [1]. He also teaches part-time at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Pulaski [1].\n\n## Office history\nWamble is serving his second term on the Giles County Commission (District 2) and previously served four years on the Giles County School Board [1]. The University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service lists him as a Giles County commissioner [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David Wamble Announces Bid for Giles County Executive in 2026 - WKSR](https://www.wksr.com/news/local-news/david-wamble-announces-bid-for-giles-county-executive-in-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [David Wamble - UT County Technical Assistance Service](https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/official/david-wamble) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Giles County Candidate List (as of 5/6/2026), Primary & General Election August 6, 2026](https://gilescountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-List-August-6-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"DAVID","lastname":"WAMBLE","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Oa1cdCdrhm"},"token":"david_wamble"},{"candidatename":"KNOX VANDERPOOL","chatgptsummary":"Knox Vanderpool's biography shows executive management experience as Chairman of the Giles County Board of Education since 2020, including overseeing construction projects and salary reforms. This background demonstrates familiarity with budgetary oversight and intergovernmental coordination within a local Tennessee entity. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience managing county-wide departments like roads or emergency services, nor experience defending an annual budget before a county commission.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKnox Vanderpool is an Independent candidate for Giles County Executive on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot [2][4]. He currently serves as Chairman of the Giles County Board of Education, representing District 7 [3]. His campaign emphasizes \"fiscal responsibility with the least amount of financial burden\" placed on citizens, and promises to address county infrastructure and planning needs [1].\n\n## Background and education\nVanderpool was born and raised in the Crescentview area of Giles County and, by his account, was raised by a single father with support from his grandparents and community [1]. He graduated from Giles County High School in 1996, attended Phillips Exeter Academy as a post-graduate student athlete, walked on as a student athlete at Vanderbilt University, and earned a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from the University of the South (Sewanee) [1].\n\n## Career\nVanderpool coached at Western Oregon University in 2002 and taught and coached at Richland High School in 2003 [1]. He founded the SAYiWON'T brand about 24 years ago and opened the SAYiWON'T facility in 2017, describing the brand as diversified across multiple ventures [1]. He has coached youth soccer, baseball, football, wrestling and gymnastics [1].\n\n## Office history\nVanderpool was elected to the Giles County School Board in 2018 and has served as Board Chairman since fall 2020 [1][3]. He served as the construction point of contact on three major school building renovation projects and worked on teacher salary schedule reforms with school and county leadership [1].\n\n## Family\nVanderpool has been married to Brooke Jett Vanderpool, of Lynnville, for 23 years; they have three children who attend local schools [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [About Me - Knox Vanderpool for County Executive](https://knoxvanderpool.com/about-me) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Knox Vanderpool Announces Candidacy for Giles County Executive in 2026 - WKSR](https://www.wksr.com/news/local-news/knox-vanderpool-announces-candidacy-for-giles-county-executive-in-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Giles County School Board Members - Giles County School System](https://www.gcboe.us/our-district/board-of-education/giles-county-school-board-members) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Giles County Candidate List (as of 5/6/2026), Primary & General Election August 6, 2026](https://gilescountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Candidate-List-August-6-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"KNOX","lastname":"VANDERPOOL","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"HG3wvI6XCd"},"token":"knox_vanderpool"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_mayor","o.office":null,"office":"county_executive","officedescription":"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.","officequalities":"- Executive management of county government across departments such as roads, finance, planning, and emergency management.\n- Ability to prepare and defend an annual budget before the county commission.\n- Intergovernmental capacity: coordinating with the municipalities within the county, the State of Tennessee, and federal agencies.\n- Working familiarity with Tennessee county-government law, the county charter where one exists, and open-meetings and procurement rules.\n- Public-facing communication and, when needed, crisis-management skills.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Mayor","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"giles County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://gilescountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/August-6-2026-Primary-and-General-Ballot.pdf"},"title":"County Executive"}