{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"John K Doolen","chatgptsummary":"John K. Doolen currently serves as Hardeman County Sheriff, demonstrating organizational leadership of a sheriff's office and oversight of county operations. His biography notes recognition for supporting deputies serving in the National Guard. Bio does not indicate experience with developing operating budgets or working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJohn K. Doolen is the incumbent Hardeman County Sheriff and is running for re-election as an independent candidate in the August 6, 2026 county general election, against Republican nominee David Nabors and Democratic nominee Antonio Parham [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nDoolen serves as Sheriff of Hardeman County, leading the Hardeman County Sheriff's Office in Bolivar [2][3]. He has been recognized by deputies who serve in the National Guard with a Patriot Award nomination for his support of their service [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hardeman County Election Commission \u2014 August 6, 2026 Official Sample Ballot](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH/view) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Hardeman County Election Commission \u2014 Your Elected Officials](https://www.hardemanvotes.com/p/your-elected-officials.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Administration \u2014 Hardeman County Sheriff's Office](https://hardemancountysheriff.org/?page_id=22) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Sheriff Doolen Honored \u2014 Hardeman County Sheriff's Office](https://hardemancountysheriff.org/sheriff-doolen-honored/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"John","lastname":"Doolen","middlename":"K","suffix":null,"token":"4cCVOy924t"},"token":"john_k_doolen"},{"candidatename":"Antonio D Parham","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Antonio","lastname":"Parham","middlename":"D","suffix":null,"token":"OowxZq5sqz"},"token":"antonio_d_parham"},{"candidatename":"David Thomas Nabors","chatgptsummary":"David Thomas Nabors brings over a decade of law enforcement experience, including patrol operations, K9 training, and division management involving budgets and personnel. His current role as a state special agent involves complex investigations and inter-agency collaboration, aligning with the office's need for leadership and coordination. Bio does not indicate prior jail administration or direct county-level budget oversight experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid Thomas Nabors is the Republican Party nominee for Hardeman County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 county general election, running against incumbent independent John Doolen and Democratic nominee Antonio Parham [1]. He announced his candidacy in March 2026 [2]. His platform emphasizes three principles \u2014 accountability, transparency and competency \u2014 and includes equipping deputies with body-worn cameras and addressing methamphetamine and fentanyl in West Tennessee [2][3].\n\n## Career\nNabors graduated from the Memphis Police Academy and has more than a decade of law enforcement experience [3]. He worked as a patrol officer, served as a K9 master trainer who trained and certified police K9 units, and later oversaw a patrol division, managing operations, budgets and personnel [3]. He currently serves as a special agent for the State of Tennessee, working complex investigations and inter-agency collaboration [2][3].\n\n## Family\nNabors and his wife are raising four children in Hardeman County, and the family volunteers with Hardeman County Adoptable Animals [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hardeman County Election Commission \u2014 August 6, 2026 Official Sample Ballot](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH/view) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [David Nabors announces candidacy for sheriff of Hardeman County (WBBJ)](https://www.wbbjtv.com/2026/03/11/david-nabors-announces-candidacy-for-sheriff-of-hardeman-county/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [David Nabors, Candidate for Hardeman County Sheriff (Hatchie Press)](https://hatchiepress.com/david-nabors-candidate-for-hardeman-county-sheriff-2026/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"David","lastname":"Nabors","middlename":"Thomas","suffix":null,"token":"ENQYwkS1aN"},"token":"david_thomas_nabors"}],"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":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"hardeman County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH"},"title":"Sheriff"}