{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"EDGAR DEYOE","chatgptsummary":"Edgar DeYoe's background as a former medical researcher and software founder suggests analytical skills relevant to Sequatchie County Commission duties like budget literacy and land-use policy. His stated priorities include poverty reduction and disaster preparedness, though his biography lacks evidence of prior legislative experience or direct constituent case-work within Tennessee county government. Bio does not indicate experience with state-mandated continuing education or established intergovernmental relations.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEdgar \"Ted\" DeYoe III is a Democratic candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 8 on the August 6, 2026 ballot, running, he says, \"reluctantly\" after being encouraged to seek office, with a stated goal of making \"Sequatchie-for-everyone.\"[1] His priorities include land-use and zoning management, more public engagement (particularly among voters under 40), farmland preservation through Heritage Farm programs, conservation of natural areas, hospital-status oversight, addressing county poverty (which he put at nearly 25% at or below the poverty level), county-wide disaster preparedness, and garbage disposal management.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nDeYoe grew up in a small farm town in upstate New York and has training in engineering.[1] About seven years ago, he and his wife relocated to Sequatchie County, seeking a return to a rural lifestyle resembling his childhood.[1] He describes himself as a hiker and backpacker.[1]\n\n## Career\nHe describes himself as a former medical researcher who worked at a lab in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then founded a medical-software spin-off company; he is now semi-retired.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Edgar De Yoe \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-edgar-de-yoeedgar-ted-deyoe-iii-d-is-running-for-district-8/122211001202328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"EDGAR","lastname":"DEYOE","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"aoOE8a4h6Y"},"token":"edgar_deyoe"},{"candidatename":"TOMMY JOHNSON","chatgptsummary":"Tommy Johnson's twenty-six-year tenure on the Sequatchie County Commission demonstrates direct experience with budget approval, legislative processes, and constituent relations. His background in operations management and engineering supports policy judgment on countywide matters, while his committee leadership shows familiarity with local governance structures. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate recent continuing education through UT CTAS or specific intergovernmental negotiation experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTommy Johnson is an incumbent Republican commissioner seeking reelection to one of two Sequatchie County Commission District 8 seats on the August 6, 2026 ballot.[1] He serves on the Heritage Farm, Budget, and Sanitation committees and chairs the Road and Personnel committees, and prioritizes equitable distribution of tax dollars to outlying areas, road improvements, farmland preservation, and youth employment retention.[1]\n\n## Career\nJohnson spent 29 years working in Chattanooga in operations management and engineering, overseeing high-dollar projects, experience he says he applies to county governance.[1] He is a volunteer firefighter in Lone Oak, president of the Lone Oak Community Center, and a member of Lone Oak Baptist Church.[1]\n\n## Office history\nJohnson is in his 26th year on the county commission; his grandfather, Tomie Johnson, preceded him with 43 years on the former County Court as a justice of the peace.[1] He cites accomplishments during his tenure including construction of the Justice Center, debt-free county school funding, a grant to remodel the Sequatchie Haven senior facility, moving to a private ambulance service (which he said saved over $1 million), water service for Lone Oak, and an agricultural safety signage initiative.[1]\n\n## Family\nJohnson has been married 32 years and has two adult children; he represents the third generation living on the family farm, which has been in his family for 98 years and will be eligible for Heritage Farm status in two years.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Tommy Johnson \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-tommy-johnsontommy-johnson-r-is-running-for-reelection-in-a/122212460636328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"TOMMY","lastname":"JOHNSON","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"uY33Kf6jw3"},"token":"tommy_johnson"},{"candidatename":"BILL LUSK","chatgptsummary":"Bill Lusk's twelve-year tenure on the Signal Mountain Town Council and six years as mayor demonstrate relevant legislative process experience and constituent relations skills for county commissioner duties. His background in transportation and logistics may support budget literacy, though his biography does not indicate specific experience with Tennessee county-government law or state-required continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBill Lusk is a Democratic candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 8 on the August 6, 2026 ballot, which he says covers primarily the north end of Signal Mountain to the Hamilton County line.[1] His priorities include expanding recycling programs, concerns about the Erlanger-Sequatchie emergency department, establishing animal-shelter services, increasing county funding for volunteer fire departments, and responsible development planning and infrastructure ahead of growth.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nLusk lived on Signal Mountain from 1968 and, six years ago, he and his wife moved to the Sequatchie County side of the mountain, building on acreage they purchased.[1]\n\n## Career\nHe is retired after more than 35 years in transportation and logistics.[1]\n\n## Office history\nLusk served 12 years on the Signal Mountain Town Council and six years as mayor of Signal Mountain.[1]\n\n## Family\nHe is married; he and his wife are Master Gardeners who have made their property \"a refuge for nature - for wildlife and pollinators.\"[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Bill Lusk \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-bill-luskbill-lusk-d-is-running-in-a-hotly-contested-race-f/122209385600328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"BILL","lastname":"LUSK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"lUyaHEWvNB"},"token":"bill_lusk"},{"candidatename":"WAYNE CLEMONS","chatgptsummary":"Wayne Clemons's biography shows relevant experience for Sequatchie County Commissioner through his current service on the commission, where he cites balanced budget management and advocacy for managed growth. His background includes construction, sales, process serving, and five years as a volunteer firefighter, alongside work with the local Chamber of Commerce. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in legislative drafting or state-mandated continuing education completion.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWayne Clemons is an incumbent Republican commissioner seeking reelection to Sequatchie County Commission District 8 on the August 6, 2026 ballot.[1] He cites a balanced budget as the commission's greatest accomplishment along with expanded community outreach, and advocates managed growth through infrastructure planning and farmland protection, supporting the Heritage Farm program; he has said he does not want the county to resemble \"Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg,\" and favors incremental tax increases over larger jumps.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nClemons is a lifelong resident of the Lone Oak area of Sequatchie County and graduated from Sequatchie County High School in 1988.[1]\n\n## Career\nHis work has included construction, factory and warehouse jobs, sales, and process serving, and he currently works for the Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce.[1] He has served as a volunteer firefighter with the Lone Oak Fire Department for five years.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Wayne Clemons \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-wayne-clemonswayne-clemons-r-is-running-for-reelection-to-t/122210139044328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"WAYNE","lastname":"CLEMONS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"8TcARYclaH"},"token":"wayne_clemons"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_8","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":2,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-21","title":"Sequatchie County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://tnsos.org/elections/ballots/741.pdf"},"title":"County Commissioner District 8"}