{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"James \"Ryan\" Skelton","chatgptsummary":"James \"Ryan\" Skelton's biography shows he defeated an incumbent for Lewis County Mayor and emphasizes fiscal efficiency and transparency. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior executive management of county departments or experience with Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"> **Editorial note \u2014 same-name confusion.** This candidate, James \"Ryan\" Skelton of Lewis County, is not the same person as a similarly surnamed Wayne County, Tennessee pastor and businessman who sought a state legislative seat in the same cycle. They are different individuals; this profile is about the Lewis County mayoral candidate.\n\n## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJames \"Ryan\" Skelton is the Republican nominee for Lewis County Mayor on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, facing independent candidate Shane Blackwood [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, Skelton defeated incumbent Mayor Jonah Keltner by 86 votes, receiving 1,527 votes (51.45%) to Keltner's 1,441 (48.55%) [1]. Skelton has said transparency is important to him and that he wants a strong working relationship with county employees and residents; he has pledged accountability, describing himself as not the \"kick the can down the road\" type [2]. On county finances, he has said raising taxes should not be the first answer and that county government should operate efficiently, cut waste, and ensure existing dollars are used responsibly before asking taxpayers for more [2].\n\n## Background and education\nSkelton has said he has called Lewis County home his entire life, that he was born at Lewis County Hospital, and that the county, its people, and its way of life are part of who he is [2].\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Meet the Lewis County Mayoral Candidates - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/04/09/news/meet-the-lewis-county-mayoral-candidates/11976.html) (publisher blocks automated access; biographical facts above drawn from indexed excerpts, not the full article)\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Tiller Takes Sheriff's Race; Skelton Unseats Keltner in Election Night Shakeup - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/05/07/news/tiller-takes-sheriffs-race-skelton-unseats-keltner-in-election-night-shakeup/12153.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Meet the Lewis County Mayoral Candidates - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/04/09/news/meet-the-lewis-county-mayoral-candidates/11976.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"JAMES","lastname":"SKELTON","middlename":"RONNIE","suffix":null,"token":"BDjOSoaPk8"},"token":"james_ryan_skelton"},{"candidatename":"Shane Blackwood","chatgptsummary":"Shane Blackwood's biography shows prior mayoral candidacy and stated priorities regarding communication, planning, and fiscal transparency for Lewis County. The record notes a narrow 2022 election loss to an incumbent by twenty-one votes. Bio does not indicate executive management experience or familiarity with Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nShane Blackwood is an independent candidate for Lewis County Mayor on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, running against Republican nominee James \"Ryan\" Skelton [1][2]. Blackwood describes himself as \"not a polished politician\" but \"an everyday working man, a family man, and someone who truly loves this county and the people in it\" [1]. He has said his top priorities are communication, planning, and strengthening basic county services, emphasizing that residents want to feel informed and included, to know what decisions are being made, and to be able to reach their county leadership [1]. On taxes, he has said, \"I am not for raising taxes unless it is absolutely necessary, clearly justified, and handled with full transparency,\" and that county government should operate efficiently and cut waste [1].\n\n## Office history\nBlackwood previously ran for Lewis County Mayor in 2022, narrowly losing to incumbent Jonah Keltner, who received 1,364 votes to Blackwood's 1,343 \u2014 a margin of 21 votes [3][4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blackwood Announces Candidacy for Lewis County Mayor - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/05/14/business/blackwood-announces-candidacy-for-lewis-county-mayor/12201.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Meet Lewis County's 2026 Mayoral Candidates - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2026/04/09/news/meet-lewis-countys-2026-mayoral-candidates/11974.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Blackwood announces candidacy for County Mayor - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2022/06/16/news/blackwood-announces-candidacy-for-county-mayor/4620.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [2022 Election Results - Lewis County Herald](https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2022/08/11/news/2022-election-results/4913.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Shane","lastname":"Blackwood","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"rqwWigq8zB"},"token":"shane_blackwood"}],"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":"2026-07-21","title":"Lewis County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/43a9b6a0-68b8-4a56-8e2b-8e3f105bb3c0/downloads/4c230121-10f0-4430-9d5d-d63036aca5f2/August%206%202026%20Sample%20Ballot.pdf?ver=1784387482222"},"title":"County Mayor"}