{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"DAVID W. LINKOUS","chatgptsummary":"David W. Linkous is a local businessman and frequent attendee at County Commission meetings, showing familiarity with county operations and public communication. His campaign highlights business attraction and roadway improvements, addressing executive management and intergovernmental coordination needs. The biography documents no controversy or disciplinary record. Bio does not indicate prior experience in budget preparation or crisis management.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid W. Linkous is the Republican nominee for Hawkins County Mayor on the August 6, 2026 ballot, running unopposed after winning a four-way GOP primary in May 2026 [1][2]. Linkous, described in local coverage as a local businessman and a frequent attendee and commenter at County Commission meetings, ran a door-to-door campaign focused on business attraction, children's welfare, public safety, and roadway improvements, with a stated vision that boils down to one word: \"prosperity\" [1][3][4]. He has also said he wants to help preserve farmland and keep the county's \"small community character\" while preparing for the next generation [4].\n\n## Office history\nLinkous defeated incumbent Mayor Mark DeWitte in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, taking 2,957 votes (about 35.7%) in a four-way field; Keith Gibson finished second with 2,078, DeWitte third with 2,005, and Kenneth Stapleton fourth with 1,235 [1][2][3]. Linkous carried early voting by roughly 500 votes and held that margin through election day [1]. With no Democratic or independent challenger filed, he is expected to be certified as Hawkins County's next mayor after the August 6 general election [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [No excuses: Stewart wins primary, Linkous unseats DeWitte](https://www.therogersvillereview.com/news/article_f3f7b9f3-e7c6-4839-9584-7f87024cae4a.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[2] [Linkous defeats DeWitte in Hawkins Co. mayoral primary (WJHL)](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/linkous-defeats-dewitte-in-hawkins-co-mayoral-primary/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[3] [Hawkins voters have plenty of options (Rogersville Review)](https://www.therogersvillereview.com/news/article_a72b5833-32a6-408c-84a9-21f45511c5f5.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[4] ['A better way': David Linkous runs for Hawkins mayor (Kingsport Times News)](https://timesnews.net/news/356181/a-better-way-david-linkous-runs-for-hawkins-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18\n[5] [Official ballot, Hawkins County, August 6, 2026](https://hawkinscountytn.gov/pdfs/elections/sample_ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-18","firstname":"DAVID","lastname":"LINKOUS","middlename":"W.","suffix":null,"token":"5VR3JoX2qu"},"token":"david_w_linkous"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_mayor","o.office":null,"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 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":"2026-07-18","title":"Hawkins County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.hawkinscountytn.gov/pdfs/elections/sample_ballot.pdf"},"title":"County Mayor"}