Ballot Project

← Back to Hickman County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06

Contest for County Commission District 3

general - Partisan - County Commissioner
Elect 2 candidates

About this office

A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.

Term length: 4 years.

This role calls for

  • Policy judgment on countywide matters — budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues — within Tennessee county-government law.
  • Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.
  • Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.
  • Constituent relations in the district — case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.
  • Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.

Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.

Campaigns

Matthew Barnhill

Matthew Barnhill

Independent
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Matthew Barnhill's biography shows current service as a Hickman County Commissioner for District 3, demonstrating direct experience with county budget approval, legislative processes, and constituent relations within Tennessee law. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior experience in state-level intergovernmental negotiations or specific continuing education completion through UT CTAS.
Michael Wayne Thomasson, Sr.

Michael Wayne Thomasson, Sr.

Independent
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Michael Wayne Thomasson, Sr. currently serves as a Hickman County Commissioner for District 3, demonstrating direct experience with county budget approval, legislative voting, and constituent relations under Tennessee law. His biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate prior experience in multi-year bond issuance or completion of state-required UT CTAS continuing education.
Tony Essary

Tony Essary

Republican
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No campaign summary available.
Ethan Hudgins

Ethan Hudgins

Republican
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No campaign summary available.
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