← Back to Lincoln County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-08-06
Contest for County Commissioner District 1
general - Partisan - County Commissioner
Elect 3 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
M. Brandon Kolle's biography shows four years of service on the Lincoln County Commission and a role on the public library board, demonstrating familiarity with local legislative processes and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in budget literacy or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.
Jonathan Bailey's background as a preconstruction manager at Lee Company demonstrates budget literacy and cost evaluation skills relevant to county fiscal duties. His five years of residency in Lincoln County suggests familiarity with local community needs. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with legislative drafting, intergovernmental law, or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.
Darrin Simms's biography shows prior candidacy for the Lincoln County Commission in 2022, though he finished outside the top three. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or constituent case-work.
Danny Walker's biography shows four years of service on the Lincoln County Commission, demonstrating familiarity with local legislative processes and constituent relations. He secured re-election in 2022 with the highest vote total in his district, indicating established community support. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience in budget literacy regarding multi-year bond issues or state-mandated continuing education completion.
Don Jenkins's biography shows nearly thirty years of military service and a stated priority to represent citizens and support free enterprise, which may inform policy judgment and constituent relations for the Lincoln County Commission. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or Tennessee local government law.
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