{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"M. Brandon Kolle","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nM. Brandon Kolle is an independent candidate for re-election to the Lincoln County Commission, District 1, on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot. District 1 is a single \"vote for three\" contest [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nKolle was elected to a Lincoln County Commission District 1 seat in the August 2022 county general election, receiving 367 votes in the district's vote-for-three field [3]. He serves as the county commission's representative on the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Public Library Board of Trustees [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [List of Candidates, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/LIST%20OF%20CANDIDATES%205-18-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [General Sample Ballot, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Election 2022: Lincoln County's Unofficial Election Results - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/news/election-2022-lincoln-county-s-unofficial-election-results/article_cd1e0cc0-1444-11ed-9e7b-7786c8f1c885.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Board of Trustees - Fayetteville-Lincoln County Public Library](https://www.flcpl.org/board-of-trustees) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"M.","lastname":"Kolle","middlename":"Brandon","suffix":null,"token":"jkHz7BUhgc"},"token":"m_brandon_kolle"},{"candidatename":"Jonathan Bailey","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJonathan \"John\" Bailey is an independent candidate for the Lincoln County Commission, District 1, on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot. District 1 is a single \"vote for three\" contest [1][2]. Bailey describes himself as \"not a career politician\" but a working professional and family man, and says that if elected he will focus on fiscal responsibility, protecting taxpayers, and making decisions that benefit both current and future residents; his campaign motto is \"Less talk, more walk\" [3].\n\n## Background and education\nBailey and his family moved to Lincoln County about five years ago, and he and his wife are raising five children in the county [3].\n\n## Career\nBailey has a background in construction and works at Lee Company as a preconstruction manager, where he evaluates costs, plans projects, and works to complete projects efficiently and within budget [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [List of Candidates, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/LIST%20OF%20CANDIDATES%205-18-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [General Sample Ballot, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Jonathan Bailey announces candidacy for District 1 commissioner - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/news/jonathan-bailey-announces-candidacy-for-district-1-commissioner/article_fe79e368-34be-4e85-a9da-b1fc0eaf5ed1.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Jonathan","lastname":"Bailey","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"3pL9Ele59p"},"token":"jonathan_bailey"},{"candidatename":"Darrin Simms","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDarrin Simms is an independent candidate for the Lincoln County Commission, District 1, on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot. District 1 is a single \"vote for three\" contest [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nSimms previously ran for a District 1 commission seat in the August 2022 county general election, appearing on that ballot as \"Darrin Sims\" and receiving 281 votes, finishing outside the top three; he is again seeking a seat in 2026 [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [List of Candidates, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/LIST%20OF%20CANDIDATES%205-18-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [General Sample Ballot, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Election 2022: Lincoln County's Unofficial Election Results - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/news/election-2022-lincoln-county-s-unofficial-election-results/article_cd1e0cc0-1444-11ed-9e7b-7786c8f1c885.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Darrin","lastname":"Simms","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"sSoLM0TPlC"},"token":"darrin_simms"},{"candidatename":"Danny Walker","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDanny Walker is an independent candidate for re-election to the Lincoln County Commission, District 1, on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot. District 1 is a single \"vote for three\" contest [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nWalker won a Lincoln County Commission District 1 seat in the August 2022 county general election, receiving 443 votes -- the highest total in the district's vote-for-three field -- and has served as a District 1 commissioner since [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [List of Candidates, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/LIST%20OF%20CANDIDATES%205-18-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [General Sample Ballot, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Election 2022: Lincoln County's Unofficial Election Results - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/news/election-2022-lincoln-county-s-unofficial-election-results/article_cd1e0cc0-1444-11ed-9e7b-7786c8f1c885.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Danny","lastname":"Walker","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"oddzTYYr8J"},"token":"danny_walker"},{"candidatename":"Jim Hammons","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Jim","lastname":"Hammons","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"tnv8kZfP7S"},"token":"jim_hammons"},{"candidatename":"Don Jenkins","chatgptsummary":"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.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDon Jenkins is a Republican candidate for the Lincoln County Commission, District 1, on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot. District 1 is a single \"vote for three\" contest that elects three commissioners [1][2]. In announcing his candidacy, Jenkins said his priorities include representing the will of the county's citizens and supporting free enterprise [3].\n\n## Career\nJenkins is described in his candidacy announcement as a retired soldier with nearly 30 years of military service [3].\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Don Jenkins announces candidacy for District 1 commissioner - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/don-jenkins-announces-candidacy-for-district-1-commissioner/article_b7812f96-fad0-4a4b-b0c6-64828784fcd0.html) (full article not directly retrievable; facts above drawn from the indexed announcement text)\n\n## Sources\n[1] [List of Candidates, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/LIST%20OF%20CANDIDATES%205-18-2026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [General Sample Ballot, August 6, 2026 (Lincoln County Election Commission)](https://cms2.revize.com/revize/lincolncountynew/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Don Jenkins announces candidacy for District 1 commissioner - Elk Valley Times](https://www.elkvalleytimes.com/don-jenkins-announces-candidacy-for-district-1-commissioner/article_b7812f96-fad0-4a4b-b0c6-64828784fcd0.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Don","lastname":"Jenkins","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"u8aZhpHH5n"},"token":"don_jenkins"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_1","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":3,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"lincoln County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.lincolncountytn.gov/Documents/Election%20Commission/2026%20Election/GENERAL%20SAMPLE%20BALLOT.pdf"},"title":"County Commissioner District 1"}