{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Joe Thomas","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Joe","lastname":"Thomas","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"FXnWNBJYQr"},"token":"joe_thomas"},{"candidatename":"Brian Hooper","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Brian","lastname":"Hooper","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"YwZfxIBdM5"},"token":"brian_hooper"},{"candidatename":"Kamden \"Kam\" Lang","chatgptsummary":"Lang's biography shows nearly a decade as a deputy sheriff with specialized operations and S.W.A.T. training, alongside roles as a business owner and financial services vice president. These facts suggest relevant law-enforcement background and potential budget oversight skills for leading the Houston County Sheriff's Office. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in jail administration or direct coordination with municipal police departments.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKamden \"Kam\" Lang is running as an independent candidate for Houston County Sheriff in the August 6, 2026 county general election [1]. The seat is open: longtime Sheriff Kevin L. Sugg is retiring, an occasion recognized by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2026 [2][3]. Lang's campaign says he is committed to protecting \"businesses, schools, elderly, families, and the United States Constitution\" and to keeping the community \"safe, welcoming, and full of opportunity for future generations\" [1].\n\n## Career\nLang describes himself as a former deputy sheriff with nearly a decade of law enforcement experience, including specialized operations and S.W.A.T. training [1]. Outside law enforcement, he says he is a Houston County business owner and a regional vice president in financial services [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Kamden Lang for Houston County Sheriff \u2014 campaign website](https://www.kamdenlang.com/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Sheriff Kevin L. Sugg | Houston County Sheriff's Office](https://www.hcsotn.org/node/26) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Tennessee HJR1141, 114th General Assembly (resolution recognizing Sheriff Kevin Sugg on his retirement)](https://legiscan.com/TN/bill/HJR1141/2025) - accessed 2026-07-23\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Kamden Lang for Houston County Sheriff \u2014 Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Lang4Sheriff/) (public campaign page; some content may require login)","firstname":"Kamden","lastname":"Lang","middlename":"\"Kam\"","suffix":null,"token":"tnhOvACb8H"},"token":"kamden_kam_lang"}],"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":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-22","title":"Houston County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://tnsos.org/elections/ballots/740.pdf"},"title":"Sheriff"}