{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"TREY GOOCH","chatgptsummary":"Trey Gooch's biography shows relevant experience as an incumbent Rutherford County Commissioner serving on the Budget Committee and acting as Chairman Pro Tempore, demonstrating familiarity with county legislative processes and constituent relations. His background includes 27 years of leadership as a retired Walgreens store manager. The biography does not indicate prior experience in state-mandated continuing education or specific expertise in complex land use planning beyond general infrastructure priorities.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nTrey Gooch is the incumbent Rutherford County Commissioner for District 20 and serves as the commission's Chairman Pro Tempore and as a member of the Budget Committee [1][2]. He is the Republican nominee for a full term on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, where he faces Democrat Josh Walker [2][3]. Gooch was unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary [3]. His stated campaign priorities include completing the new Rutherford County Corrections Complex, improving traffic and transportation planning, developing a more efficient county recycling program, supporting public safety and county infrastructure, and protecting taxpayers through fiscally responsible leadership [1].\n\n## Career\n\nGooch is a retired Walgreens store manager with 27 years of leadership experience, and he is described by the Rutherford County Republican Party as a \"longtime public servant\" [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nGooch serves on the Rutherford County Commission representing District 20 and holds the role of Chairman Pro Tempore, filling in as chairman when needed [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Meet Trey Gooch \u2014 Rutherford County Republican Party (Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/RUTHGOP/posts/meet-trey-gooch-republican-candidate-for-rutherford-county-commission-district-2/1460047042822660/) \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] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/live-may-5th-rutherford-county-primary-election-results-and-coverage-tonight-beginning-at-7pm) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"TREY","lastname":"GOOCH","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"usYx9mOSJK"},"token":"trey_gooch"},{"candidatename":"JOSH WALKER","chatgptsummary":"Josh Walker's biography shows fifteen years of Rutherford County residency and a career in data analysis focused on problem-solving, which may support constituent relations and policy judgment. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or state-mandated continuing education.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJosh Walker is the Democratic nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 20 on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, challenging Republican incumbent Trey Gooch [1][2]. Walker was unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary [3]. He describes himself as running to advocate for working families, saying he has seen rising living costs affect residents and wants to apply his professional background in problem-solving to community challenges [1]. His stated priorities include affordable housing with development constraints, requiring infrastructure such as roads and sewage for new developments, prioritizing public school funding over charter schools, strengthening public services, and protecting civil rights, including opposition to book bans [1]. His campaign reports an endorsement from Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nWalker describes himself as a 15-year resident of Rutherford County whose children have attended local schools [1].\n\n## Career\n\nWalker describes his professional background as being in data analysis, specializing in \"finding and solving problems\" [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Elect Josh Walker \u2014 campaign site](https://electjoshwalker.com/) \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] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/live-may-5th-rutherford-county-primary-election-results-and-coverage-tonight-beginning-at-7pm) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"JOSH","lastname":"WALKER","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"DcU1lGkrL1"},"token":"josh_walker"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_20","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 20"}