{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"DENNIS \"DENNY\" GILLESPIE","chatgptsummary":"Denny Gillespie's biography shows six terms as a District 3 Commissioner, indicating familiarity with legislative processes and constituent relations in Lawrence County. He co-sponsored resolutions in May 2026, demonstrating active engagement in county governance. No controversies or disciplinary records appear in the provided text. Bio does not indicate experience with state-required continuing education through UT CTAS or specific budget literacy regarding multi-year bond issues.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDenny Gillespie currently serves as the Lawrence County Commissioner for District 3, representing the southeast corner of the county [1]. The seat is on the ballot in Lawrence County's county general election on August 6, 2026 [3]. Gillespie co-sponsored a county commission resolution as recently as the May 26, 2026 regular session, indicating active current service [4].\n\n## Background and education\n\nGillespie is a native of Lawrence County and has lived in Five Points, in the county's third civil district, his entire life except for his period of military service. He attended Loretto High School, graduating in 1965 [1].\n\n## Career\n\nGillespie is a Vietnam-era Navy combat veteran, having served aboard the USS Banner (1966-1967) and subsequently in the \"Brown Water Navy\" on river boats (1968-1969) [1]. He retired from TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in 2001 and continues to do contract work for nuclear power producers, including TVA. He also farms [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nGillespie is currently serving his sixth term as District 3 Commissioner [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Denny Gillespie - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/commissioners/district-3/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Introducing Lawrence County Commissioners - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/news/introducing-lawrence-county-commissioners) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [August 6, 2026 Primary & General Election - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/2026/06/10/august-6-2026-primary-general-election/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [AGENDA: Regular Session, May 26, 2026 - Lawrence County TN, Government](https://lawrencecountytn.gov/2026/05/21/agenda-regular-session-may-26-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"DENNIS","lastname":"GILLESPIE","middlename":"\"DENNY\"","suffix":null,"token":"VNnezEmuLS"},"token":"dennis_denny_gillespie"},{"candidatename":"NICK CHEEK","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"NICK","lastname":"CHEEK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"tuyZi9zHtU"},"token":"nick_cheek"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_3","officedescription":"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.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-05","title":"Lawrence County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://lawrencecountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/State-and-General-Election-Ballot-8-6-26.pdf"},"title":"County Commissioner District 3"}