{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JOHNNY M. RANSDEL","chatgptsummary":"Ransdell brings thirty-one years in law enforcement, most with the Clarksville Police Department in patrol and the Street Crimes, Special Operations, and Major Crimes units \u2014 narcotics, gang, and homicide investigations alongside federal task forces. Documented record includes a 1991 DUI that prompted a 2026 P.O.S.T. eligibility question before he was certified for the ballot, and a 2018 one-day unpaid leave for reporting to duty at a .029% BAC, alongside commendations. Bio does not indicate experience running a sheriff's office, its jail, or its budget.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJohnny Ransdell, 55, is an independent candidate for Montgomery County Sheriff in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against Republican Mike Oliver and independent Dexter Mines [1][2]. His campaign focuses on supporting deputies, strengthening public trust, and public safety [1].\n\n## Career\nRansdell has more than 31 years of law enforcement experience [1]. He worked briefly as a reserve deputy at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office before joining the Clarksville Police Department in September 1994, serving in District 1 patrol and later the Street Crimes, Special Operations, and Major Crimes units on narcotics, gang, and homicide investigations in partnership with federal task forces; he retired from CPD in June 2025 [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nIn 2026 a question arose over Ransdell's eligibility because Tennessee's P.O.S.T. Commission bars sheriff candidates with convictions relating to liquor, among other categories, and Ransdell had a DUI conviction from August 1991 when he was 21 and stationed at Fort Campbell [3]. Ransdell argued the DUI is a traffic offense; a P.O.S.T. spokesman said the commission has always treated DUI as liquor-related [3]. He disclosed the conviction on his 1994 CPD application and received a waiver; P.O.S.T. found no DUI conviction on record and he was certified for the ballot [3]. A separate review of candidates' personnel records reported one disciplinary action for Ransdell: a December 2018 one-day unpaid leave for reporting to duty with a .029% BAC after being unexpectedly called in, alongside multiple commendations [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Johnny Ransdell announces candidacy for Montgomery County sheriff](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/johnny-ransdell-announces-candidacy-for-montgomery-county-sheriff/) \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\n[3] [Candidate for Montgomery County sheriff qualifies despite 1991 DUI conviction](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/candidate-for-montgomery-county-sheriff-could-be-afoul-of-rules-with-1991-dui-conviction/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Warnings, suspensions, commendations: What\u2019s in sheriff candidates\u2019 disciplinary records](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/warnings-suspensions-commendations-whats-in-sheriff-candidates-disciplinary-records/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"JOHNNY","lastname":"RANSDEL","middlename":"M.","suffix":null,"token":"zF2tFQIPxg"},"token":"johnny_m_ransdel"},{"candidatename":"MIKE OLIVER","chatgptsummary":"Oliver brings thirty-two years in law enforcement, all with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office he seeks to lead \u2014 patrol deputy, drug agent, K-9 handler and division supervisor, drug task force member, and Special Victims Unit supervisor at the rank of sergeant, after starting with the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Documented record includes seven disciplinary actions, among them a 1993 ten-day suspension for failing an inmate check and falsifying records, alongside three commendations. Bio does not indicate top-command or budget experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMike Oliver is the Republican nominee for Montgomery County Sheriff in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, an open seat (Sheriff John Fuson is not seeking re-election) contested with independents Dexter Mines and Johnny Ransdell [1][2]. His platform emphasizes deputy retention and morale, school safety and expanded SRO programs, and rebuilding community trust through transparency [2].\n\n## Background and education\nOliver is described as a lifelong Montgomery County resident with more than 32 years in law enforcement [2].\n\n## Career\nOliver began with the Tennessee Department of Corrections before joining the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in 1990 [1]. He has served as a patrol deputy, drug agent (from 2007), K-9 handler and K-9 division supervisor (from 2012), a member of the 19th Judicial Drug Task Force, and leader of the Special Victims Unit (from 2019), holding the rank of sergeant [2].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nA ClarksvilleNow review of the three sheriff candidates' personnel records reported seven disciplinary actions in Oliver's file across his career, including a three-day suspension in May 1991 tied to a domestic dispute, a two-day suspension in June 1991 after he injured his hand during an outburst, a 1992 reprimand for a public dispute, a 1993 suspension for misusing a commission card and driving without a license, a ten-day suspension in November 1993 for failing an inmate check and falsifying records, and 2020 counseling; the same review noted three commendations [3].\n\n## Family\nOliver is married to a former school resource officer who teaches in CMCSS, and two of his children attend CMCSS schools [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Mike Oliver announces candidacy for sheriff of Montgomery County](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/mike-oliver-announces-candidacy-for-sheriff-of-montgomery-county/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [About Mike Oliver \u2013 Mike Oliver for Sheriff 2026](https://mikeoliverforsheriff.com/about-mike-oliver/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Warnings, suspensions, commendations: What\u2019s in sheriff candidates\u2019 disciplinary records](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/warnings-suspensions-commendations-whats-in-sheriff-candidates-disciplinary-records/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"MIKE","lastname":"OLIVER","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"C7cGA8rEZj"},"token":"mike_oliver"},{"candidatename":"DEXTER L. MINES SR.","chatgptsummary":"Mines brings over thirty years spanning law enforcement, the military, and ministry \u2014 a veteran and pastor whose policing career includes the Chattanooga Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office ESU unit, and service as a school resource officer with the Greenbrier Police Department. Documented record includes a 2016 written warning for conduct unbecoming and a 2020 one-day P.O.S.T. suspension over remarks about a commission member, alongside a commendation for a DUI arrest. Bio does not indicate experience running a sheriff's office, its jail, or its budget.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDexter L. Mines is an independent candidate for Montgomery County Sheriff in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against Republican Mike Oliver and independent Johnny Ransdell for the open seat [1][2]. He does not support reinstating the county's public online booking log, arguing a booking photo documents an arrest based on probable cause rather than a conviction while transparency about public safety can still be maintained [2].\n\n## Background and career\nMines is a veteran, law enforcement officer, and pastor with more than 30 years across law enforcement, the military, ministry, and public-safety leadership [1]. His career has included service with the Chattanooga Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office ESU unit, and the Greenbrier Police Department, where he served as a school resource officer [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nA ClarksvilleNow review of the sheriff candidates' personnel records reported two disciplinary actions for Mines: an April 2016 written warning at Greenbrier PD for \"conduct unbecoming of an officer\" over what he described as inappropriate workplace joking, and an April 2020 one-day P.O.S.T. suspension for failing to maintain harmonious working relationships after remarks about a P.O.S.T. Commission member, which he called a misinterpretation and a learning moment; the review also noted a commendation for a DUI arrest [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Dexter Mines announces candidacy for sheriff of Montgomery County](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/dexter-mines-announces-candidacy-for-sheriff-of-montgomery-county/) \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\n[3] [Warnings, suspensions, commendations: What\u2019s in sheriff candidates\u2019 disciplinary records](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/warnings-suspensions-commendations-whats-in-sheriff-candidates-disciplinary-records/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"DEXTER","lastname":"SR.","middlename":"L. MINES","suffix":null,"token":"XoZefCZku1"},"token":"dexter_l_mines_sr"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":null,"office":"sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","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":"Sheriff"}