{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"DAVID L. HARPER","chatgptsummary":"David L. Harper's biography shows eleven years of service on the Montgomery County Commission, including Budget Committee work and oversight of land use through the Bi-County Landfill Board. He has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience in drafting ordinances or completing state-mandated continuing education.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid L. Harper is the incumbent Montgomery County Commissioner for District 15 and the Republican candidate for re-election in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, facing independents Justin Medearis and Robert Waugh [1][2]. He describes himself as a fiscally conservative Republican who has voted against property-tax increases since taking office [1].\n\n## Office history\nHarper was first elected in 2014 and cites 11 years of service [1]. He has served on the Budget Committee, the E911 District Board, and the Bi-County Landfill Board, and while on the Parks Committee helped secure Weakley Park in the Sango area, which includes a 2.26-mile walking trail [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David Harper running for re-election to Montgomery County Commission](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/david-harper-running-for-re-election-to-montgomery-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"DAVID","lastname":"HARPER","middlename":"L.","suffix":null,"token":"2TAUAMHsxd"},"token":"david_l_harper"},{"candidatename":"ROBERT WAUGH","chatgptsummary":"Robert Waugh's biography shows experience as a university professor and community resident since 2014, relevant to constituent relations and policy judgment. He has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate prior budget literacy or legislative process experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRobert Waugh is an independent candidate for Montgomery County Commission District 15 in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against Republican incumbent David Harper and independent Justin Medearis [1][2]. He positions himself as \"the independent candidate who will place our neighbors' quality of life above the interests of developers, contractors and financiers,\" calling for proactive county leadership and support for CMCSS teachers and students; his interest grew from serving his Sango Crossing neighborhood amid concerns about growth [1].\n\n## Background and career\nWaugh is a professor at Austin Peay State University and a professional musician who has lived in Clarksville since 2014 [1].\n\n## Family\nWaugh's wife is a CMCSS music teacher, and he is a father of two [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Robert Waugh running for Montgomery County Commission, District 15](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/robert-waugh-running-for-montgomery-county-commission-district-15/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"ROBERT","lastname":"WAUGH","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ZVoJd058oC"},"token":"robert_waugh"},{"candidatename":"JUSTIN MEDEARIS","chatgptsummary":"Justin Medearis's background as an entrepreneur and marketing firm founder demonstrates experience in strategic communications and community engagement relevant to constituent relations. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or Tennessee land-use law.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJustin Medearis is an independent candidate for Montgomery County Commission District 15 in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against Republican incumbent David Harper and independent Robert Waugh [1][2]. He describes himself as an independent conservative focused on responsible development, practical traffic solutions, better taxpayer-to-commission communication, and community parks that preserve the county's character [1].\n\n## Background and career\nMedearis is a Sango resident and entrepreneur, founder of Mind Weapon Media & Marketing, where he has worked on strategic communications, branding, and digital marketing [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Justin Medearis announces candidacy for County Commission, District 15](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/justin-medearis-announces-candidacy-for-county-commission-district-15/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"JUSTIN","lastname":"MEDEARIS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"WXdAIqlPuV"},"token":"justin_medearis"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_15","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":"2026-07-19","title":"montgomery County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://montgomerytn.gov/storage/departments/election/Legal%20%233%20-%20Sample%20Ballot%20AUG%202026.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 15"}