{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"SEAN TYLER GILLILAND","chatgptsummary":"Sean Tyler Gilliland's biography shows fifteen years as a field representative assisting constituents with federal services and two terms as board chair for Main Street Murfreesboro, demonstrating experience in constituent relations and community leadership relevant to district representation. He also served fifteen years as Chief Information Officer, indicating technical management skills. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval, legislative drafting, or land use policy within Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSean Tyler Gilliland is the Democratic nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 17 in the August 6, 2026 county general election, running for an open seat against Republican Terry Hodge.[2][1] His campaign priorities include opposing expansion of the Middle Point Landfill, developing a realistic long-term county solid-waste plan, and pursuing more sustainable growth.[1] He has said, \"I'm running because I believe Rutherford County needs thoughtful leadership that listens to citizens, cares about our neighbors, plans for the future.\"[1]\n\n## Background and education\nGilliland has lived in Rutherford County since 1994 and resides in the Scottland Acres community.[1]\n\n## Career\nGilliland served 15 years as Chief Information Officer for Primary Care and Hope Clinic, and previously spent 15 years as a field representative for U.S. Congressman Bart Gordon, assisting constituents with federal services.[1] He has been active in civic and faith organizations, including St. Mark's United Methodist Church, where he has served as administrative board chair and worship leader, and spent nearly two decades with Main Street Murfreesboro, including two terms as board chair. He received the 2024 Doug Young Downtown Leadership Award.[1]\n\n## Family\nGilliland lives with his wife, Anne; their daughter, Molly, attended local schools and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Gilliland Announces Candidacy for Rutherford County Commission, District 17 \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/97844/gilliland-announces-candidacy-for-rutherford-county-commission-district-17) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Election Deadline: Who Qualified for 2026 RuCo Primary \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/97847/election-deadline-who-qualified-for-2026-ruco-primary) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Candidate announcement: Sean Gilliland for county commissioner \u2014 Murfreesboro Post](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/murfreesboropost/candidate-announcement-sean-gilliland-for-county-commissioner/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"SEAN","lastname":"GILLILAND","middlename":"TYLER","suffix":null,"token":"Bder3thu6g"},"token":"sean_tyler_gilliland"},{"candidatename":"TERRY HODGE","chatgptsummary":"Terry Hodge's biography shows prior service on the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education, demonstrating familiarity with local governance and constituent relations relevant to the county commissioner role. The record notes his 2020 defeat for re-election but contains no evidence of disciplinary action or controversy. Bio does not indicate experience in budgeting, legislative drafting, or state-mandated continuing education.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTerry Hodge is the Republican nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 17 in the August 6, 2026 county general election, running for an open seat after Commission Chair Jeff Phillips chose not to seek re-election.[1] He faces Democrat Sean Tyler Gilliland in the general election.[1] Hodge advanced to the general from the May 5, 2026 Republican county primary.[2]\n\n## Office history\nHodge previously served on the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education, representing Zone 5. He was defeated for re-election by Claire Maxwell in the August 6, 2020 general election.[3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Election Deadline: Who Qualified for 2026 RuCo Primary \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/97847/election-deadline-who-qualified-for-2026-ruco-primary) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/rutherford-county-voters-shake-up-local-leadership-in-primary-election) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Claire Maxwell \u2014 Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Claire_Maxwell) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"TERRY","lastname":"HOOGE","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"34dKEZXtQm"},"token":"terry_hooge"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_17","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":"rutherford County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79850/Sample_Ballot_Rutherford_County_General_Aug_2026.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 17"}