{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JANE WHEELER MAULDIN","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"JANE","lastname":"MAULDIN","middlename":"WHEELER","suffix":null,"token":"gnOpjEpjat"},"token":"jane_wheeler_mauldin"},{"candidatename":"JERRY FRIZZELL JR","chatgptsummary":"Jerry Frizzell Jr.'s biography shows fifteen years of teaching carpentry and electrical classes in Sequatchie County, alongside prior service as a school bus driver and three years in the Army Reserve. He has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval, legislative drafting, or intergovernmental policy judgment required for this role.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJerry \"Jay\" Frizzell Jr. is an independent candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 9 on the August 6, 2026 ballot, in his first run for office.[1] His priorities include tax relief for elderly residents, infrastructure improvements to support growth and housing, affordable homeownership for young people, opposition to unfunded state mandates on counties, and concern about school-enrollment losses tied to state voucher programs.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nFrizzell graduated from Sequatchie County High School and trained in carpentry, and served three years in the Army Reserve before returning to construction work.[1]\n\n## Career\nHe joined the Sequatchie County school system in 2000 as a bus driver, later earned a degree to qualify for teaching, and has taught carpentry and electrical classes at Sequatchie County High School for 15 years; his students have competed in SkillsUSA and completed volunteer projects including flooring work at the Cagle Community Center.[1]\n\n## Family\nHe and his wife recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary; they have two daughters and two grandchildren.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate interviews: Jay Frizzell \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-jay-frizzelljerry-jay-frizzell-jr-i-is-running-for-election/122217958046328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"JERRY","lastname":"JR","middlename":"FRIZZELL","suffix":null,"token":"c9MI89YQVm"},"token":"jerry_frizzell_jr"},{"candidatename":"JEFFREY MACKEY","chatgptsummary":"Jeff Mackey's twelve-year tenure on the Sequatchie County Commission and his role chairing the Emergency Services Committee demonstrate relevant legislative process experience and constituent relations skills. His background operating a computer-networking business suggests practical budget literacy for countywide fiscal matters. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate specific experience with intergovernmental issues or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJeff Mackey is the incumbent Republican commissioner for Sequatchie County Commission District 9 and is seeking reelection on the August 6, 2026 ballot.[1] He chairs the commission's Emergency Services Committee, describes himself as \"libertarian-minded,\" and prioritizes infrastructure for population growth, job creation for young people, and attracting industry, while weighing property-owner rights against community concerns about potential data centers and solar farms.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nOriginally from Georgia, Mackey attended West Georgia College and completed his degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.[1]\n\n## Career\nHe operates a computer-networking business he founded before finishing college, setting up and maintaining networks for companies nationally, often flying his own plane to job sites.[1]\n\n## Office history\nMackey has served 12 years on the Sequatchie County Commission and cites the county's \"first clean audit we've ever had\" as a key accomplishment.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Jeff Mackey \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-jeff-mackeyjeff-mackey-r-is-running-for-reelection-to-count/122210139560328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"JEFFREY","lastname":"MACKEY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"aRgZngDNTY"},"token":"jeffrey_mackey"},{"candidatename":"ED MCDONALD","chatgptsummary":"Ed McDonald's biography shows extensive emergency management experience through 42 years as a firefighter and Air Force service, alongside agricultural background relevant to land use. No controversy or disciplinary record appears in the provided text. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval, legislative drafting, or formal policy judgment on intergovernmental issues.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEd McDonald is a Republican candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 9 on the August 6, 2026 ballot.[1] District 9 covers Fredonia Mountain and western Cagle Mountain, west of Highway 111.[1] His priorities include infrastructure and manageable growth, farmland preservation, expanded healthcare and senior services, formal county planning, road-maintenance funding, a multi-purpose county building, small-business growth, volunteer fire department support, and youth programs.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nAs a young man, McDonald was stationed at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, where he says he \"fell in love with Tennessee.\"[1] He served four years on active duty in the Air Force followed by 29 years in the reserves, and holds degrees in fire protection/engineering and emergency management.[1]\n\n## Career\nMcDonald worked as a firefighter for 42 years, including as fire chief at Buffalo/Niagara International Airport in New York, and spent 20 years as a farmer in western New York.[1]\n\n## Family\nHe and his wife moved to Cagle Mountain nine years ago after his retirement, and both have volunteered at the local food bank.[1] He is married with three children and three grandchildren and is a member of Chapel Hill Methodist Church.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Ed McDonald \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-ed-mcdonalded-mcdonald-r-is-running-for-the-sequatchie-coun/122211000602328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"ED","lastname":"MCDONALD","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"i5EJWvrWnc"},"token":"ed_mcdonald"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_9","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 9"}