{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mark Herndon","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"Mark Herndon is a Democratic candidate running for Hamilton County Mayor in the 2026 election [11]. He resides in Sale Creek, Tennessee, with his wife, Meghan, and their two daughters [8]. Herndon describes himself as a builder and contractor who moved to Chattanooga in 2001 [8]. His early life included time spent in South America, where his parents served as missionaries for over 30 years [8]. He later attended Tennessee Temple University [19].\n\nHerndon entered the race to challenge incumbent Mayor Weston Wamp [11]. He announced his candidacy in January 2026, stating that Hamilton County government needed to serve residents rather than \"insiders\" [8]. Herndon\u2019s campaign platform focuses on expanding affordable housing, supporting pathways to better-paying jobs, and advocating for a living minimum wage [8]. He also emphasizes strengthening public schools, particularly by expanding mental health resources for students [8].\n\nA significant motivator for Herndon\u2019s political involvement was the suicide of his 14-year-old son, Silas, in 2025 [11]. Following this loss, Herndon became an advocate for mental health services within Hamilton County Schools [19]. He successfully campaigned to restore the district's agreement with Centerstone, a nonprofit providing in-school counseling, after the school board had voted to end the partnership [19]. This advocacy involved attending school board meetings and working with other parents to reinstate the services [20].\n\nHerndon also opposes Mayor Wamp\u2019s previously canceled deed restriction swap proposal for Enterprise South Nature Park, citing a need for responsible growth that preserves green spaces [19]. He has criticized the current administration as \"inflated, wasteful, disingenuous and under qualified\" [19]. Herndon identifies as a \"redneck\" with a \"blue collar\" background, aiming to engage young people who cannot yet vote in the political process [19].\n\nIt is important to distinguish this candidate from other individuals named Mark Herndon. One Mark Herndon was the former drummer for the country band Alabama and authored a book titled *The High Road: Memories from a Long Trip* [9]. Another Mark Herndon, born in 1961, passed away in December 2025 after a career in the poultry industry [12]. These individuals are not the candidate for Hamilton County Mayor.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [3] [Elections Calendar | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/calendar)\n- [4] [2026 Election United States Senate - Tennessee - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/TN/2026/)\n- [6] [Alabama (band) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_(band))\n- [7] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [8] [Mark Herndon - For Hamilton County Mayor](https://www.votemarkformayor.com/)\n- [9] [Mark Herndon: Drummer? What Drummer? | [DFO] Drum Forum](https://www.drumforum.org/threads/mark-herndon-drummer-what-drummer.126716/)\n- [11] [Sale Creek resident says he\u2019ll challenge Wamp for county mayor | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/13/sale-creek-resident-says-hell-challenge-wamp-for/)\n- [12] [Mark Herndon Obituary | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://obituaries.timesfreepress.com/obituary/mark-herndon-1093393423)\n- [13] [IN THE RUNNING: Sale Creek resident Mark Herndon is ...](https://www.facebook.com/Local3News/posts/in-the-running-sale-creek-resident-mark-herndon-is-challenging-hamilton-county-m/1335761691927951/)\n- [16] [Alabama reunited with drummer Mark Herndon for the first ...](https://www.facebook.com/CountryNow/posts/alabama-reunited-with-drummer-mark-herndon-for-the-first-time-in-over-two-decade/1195550712591893/)\n- [17] [Mark Herndon stepping back behind the drums ...](https://www.facebook.com/Countrymusiclovers.page/posts/-when-legends-unite-for-love-and-legacy-mark-herndon-returns-to-alabamathe-world/751264061239440/)\n- [18] [At 70, former Alabama drummer Mark Herndon is finally ...](https://www.facebook.com/61573012884477/posts/breaking-just-in-from-alabama-at-70-former-alabama-drummer-mark-herndon-is-final/122148266258767096/)\n- [19] [Mark Herndon's Candidacy for Hamilton County Mayor | Local News | local3news.com](https://www.local3news.com/local-news/challenger-to-wamp-enters-hamilton-co-mayors-race/article_c4ea15ce-dc7a-4e91-95b3-baf2344f3ce7.html)\n- [20] [Hamilton County father pushes for mental health resources after losing son to suicide](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/hamilton-county-father-pushes-for-mental-health-resources-after-losing-son-to-suicide)","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Herndon","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Ru2Ly43f1M"},"token":"mark_herndon"},{"candidatename":"Weston Wamp","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Weston Wamp is the current County Mayor of Hamilton County, Tennessee, a position he holds as a Republican [2]. He was first elected to the office in 2022 and is currently running for re-election in the Republican primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [10]. As County Mayor, Wamp serves as the chief fiscal officer, overseeing the preparation of official budgets and financial reports, while managing the daily operations of county general government [2]. He also holds authority to negotiate loans and enter into contracts on behalf of Hamilton County [2].\n\nBorn on March 26, 1987, Wamp graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2009 with a degree in communication studies [4][8]. Following his graduation, he helped launch Lamp Post Group, described as a venture incubator providing capital and mentorship to startups, where he served as a founding director and later as director of communications [1][8]. He is also the president and managing partner of Wamp Strategy, a role he has held since 2010 [8]. Wamp is the son of Zach Wamp, who served as a U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District from 1995 to 2011 [8].\n\nBefore his tenure as mayor, Wamp sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives twice. In 2012, he ran in the Republican primary for Tennessee's 3rd District but was defeated by incumbent Charles J. Fleischmann [1]. He ran again in 2014, receiving 49.2% of the vote (45,082 votes) against Fleischmann\u2019s 50.8% (46,556 votes) in a primary decided by less than 1,500 votes [1]. During his 2014 campaign, Wamp faced controversy after it was revealed he secretly recorded a conversation with dairy magnate Scottie Mayfield prior to Mayfield\u2019s endorsement of Fleischmann [1].\n\nWamp entered the Hamilton County mayoral race in 2022. He won the Republican primary by a narrow margin, defeating two other candidates with only 321 more votes than his closest competitor [13][15]. In his victory speech, he pledged to focus on public education and workforce development [15]. As mayor, Wamp has emphasized career and technical education, citing a $15 million project for a Future Ready Center aimed at helping students with college and career readiness [11]. He also highlighted a 50% increase in students feeling prepared for their future paths since shifting focus to this area five years prior [11].\n\nIn his third State of the County address in April 2025, Wamp outlined a vision including new partnerships with smaller communities and the potential establishment of a Hamilton County History Museum [9][11]. He has also spoken publicly about supporting small towns like East Ridge to ensure they receive similar attention to Chattanooga [11]. During his 2022 campaign, Wamp faced criticism from the Hamilton County Democratic Party chair regarding past business dealings with the Chattanooga Lookouts baseball organization and allegations of inappropriate comments made during job interviews [14]. Despite these controversies, he secured re-election in 2022 and is seeking a second term in 2026 [10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Weston Wamp - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Weston_Wamp)\n- [2] [Mayor Weston Wamp, Hamilton County Government](https://www.hamiltontn.gov/mayor.aspx)\n- [4] [Hamilton County WWTA, TN | Official Website](https://wwta.hamiltontn.gov/)\n- [8] [Weston Wamp's Biography](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/136045/weston-wamp)\n- [9] [Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp highlights small communities in annual speech | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/apr/15/hamilton-county-mayor-weston-wamp-highlights/)\n- [10] [Weston Wamp talks growth in Hamilton County at Pachyderm Club meeting | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/feb/09/weston-wamp-talks-growth-in-hamilton-county-at/)\n- [11] [Interview: Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaks on his 3rd state of the county address](https://newschannel9.com/news/local/arc-chattanooga/interview-hamilton-county-mayor-weston-wamp-speaks-on-his-3rd-state-of-the-county-address)\n- [12] [Opinion: Let's not nationalize Hamilton County mayoral race | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/jan/11/lets-not-nationalize-hamilton-county-mayor-race/)\n- [13] [Weston Wamp's Bio - And Response - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/7/28/453208/Weston-Wamp-s-Bio---And-Response.aspx)\n- [14] [County Democratic Party Chair Says Weston Wamp \"Not Qualified To Be County Mayor\"; Trimble Backs GOP Slate - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/7/30/453293/County-Democratic-Party-Chair-Says.aspx)\n- [15] [Republican Hamilton County mayor candidate Wamp pledges to focus on education in primary victory speech | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/may/15/wamp-victory-speech/)\n- [20] [Weston Wamp (@westonwamp) \u00b7 Twitter](https://twitter.com/westonwamp)","firstname":"Weston","lastname":"Wamp","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"6I0Ufq1ORs"},"token":"weston_wamp"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"hamilton","districtgroup":"county","districtgroupname":"County","districtname":null,"job_type":"county_mayor","o.office":"county_mayor","office":"county_mayor","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 a metropolitan county government of roughly 910,000 residents and a billion-dollar-plus consolidated budget across health, public works, corrections, the Sheriff's Office (administrative side), and many smaller departments.\n- Ability to negotiate and defend an annual budget before a 13-member County Commission.\n- Intergovernmental capacity: coordinating with the City of Memphis, six suburban municipalities, the State of Tennessee, and federal agencies, especially on shared services like MATA, MLGW, EDGE, and the Health Department.\n- Working familiarity with Tennessee county-government law, the Shelby County Charter, open-meetings, and procurement rules.\n- Public-facing communication and crisis-management skills for a large, diverse, news-attentive county.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Hamilton County Mayor","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County Mayor"}