{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Gary D. Deaton","chatgptsummary":"Gary D. Deaton's biography shows over two decades of service on the Madison County Commission, including a term as chairman, demonstrating experience with budget approval, legislative processes, and constituent relations required for county governance. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience in UT CTAS continuing education completion or multi-year bond issue authorization.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGary D. Deaton is an incumbent Madison County Commissioner and the Republican nominee for County Commission District 4 (Position 3) in the August 6, 2026 election.[1][2]\n\n## Office history\nDeaton was first elected to the Madison County Commission in 1996 and has represented District 4 for more than two decades.[3][4] He has served as chairman of the Madison County Commission.[3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Madison County August 6, 2026 petition candidate list \u2014 Madison County Election Commission](https://madisoncountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17463/Petition-Candidate-List-August-2026) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [District Four \u2014 Madison County, TN official website](https://www.madisoncountytn.gov/161/District-Four) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Gary Deaton re-elected as chairman of Madison County Commission \u2014 WNWS Radio](https://wnws.com/gary-deaton-re-elected-as-chairman-of-madison-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Gary Deaton biography \u2014 Vote Smart](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/96634/gary-deaton) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Gary","lastname":"Deaton","middlename":"D.","suffix":null,"token":"uKxjjRwcZp"},"token":"gary_d_deaton"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_4_seat_c","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":null,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"madison County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://madisoncountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18013"},"title":"County Commissioner District 4, Position 3"}