{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Matthew Jerry Johnson","chatgptsummary":"Matthew Jerry Johnson's biography shows no prior experience in county governance, budget approval, or legislative drafting required for County Commissioner. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with Tennessee county-government law or constituent case-work.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMatthew Jerry Johnson is a Republican candidate for Tennessee State Executive Committeeman, District 4, on the August 6, 2026 Republican primary ballot in Hawkins County, running against Dan Bolton and Michael Hannan [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hawkins County sample ballot, August 6, 2026](https://hawkinscountytn.gov/pdfs/elections/sample_ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","firstname":"Matthew","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Jerry","suffix":null,"token":"4qtPg83W1O"},"token":"matthew_jerry_johnson"},{"candidatename":"Jason Walden","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Jason","lastname":"Walden","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"QAU9F1Nkys"},"token":"jason_walden"},{"candidatename":"Bob Harshbarger Jr.","chatgptsummary":"Bob Harshbarger Jr.'s biography shows no prior experience in county governance, budgeting, or legislative processes required for the Sullivan County Commission role. The record documents a 2013 felony conviction for health care fraud resulting in prison time and fines, though a 2025 presidential pardon restored his eligibility to hold office. Bio does not indicate experience in public policy judgment or constituent relations.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBob Harshbarger Jr. is a Republican Party nominee for one of three Sullivan County Commission District 6 (Kingsport) seats in the August 6, 2026 county general election [4]. He filed his petition for the May 5 Republican primary alongside Matthew Jerry Johnson and Tim L. Pullon [2][5].\n\n## Career\nHarshbarger is a former pharmacist [1][2]. In 2013 he pleaded guilty to distributing misbranded kidney dialysis drugs and to health care fraud, after substituting a cheaper, non-FDA-approved drug imported from China for an FDA-approved iron sucrose product used by dialysis patients [1][3]. He was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $425,000 in forfeitures, a $25,000 fine, and more than $848,000 in restitution [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nThe 2013 felony conviction had made Harshbarger ineligible to hold public office. President Donald Trump pardoned him in November 2025, restoring his eligibility, and he announced his commission campaign afterward [2][3][1]. In 2024, Harshbarger was accused of stealing and vandalizing campaign signs belonging to Jon Lundberg, a political opponent of his son; that case was dismissed [1].\n\n## Family\nHe is the husband of U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) and the father of Tennessee state Senator Bobby Harshbarger [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Bob Harshbarger Jr. announces run for Sullivan County Commission after Trump pardon (SuperTalk 92.9)](https://www.supertalk929.com/2026/02/20/bob-harshbarger-jr-announces-run-for-sullivan-county-commission-after-trump-pardon/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Bob Harshbarger Jr, husband of Congresswoman Harshbarger, files petition to run for Sullivan County Commission (WJHL)](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/bob-harshbarger-jr-husband-of-congresswoman-harshbarger-files-petition-to-run-for-sullivan-county-commission/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Trump pardons the husband of Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee (AOL)](https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-pardons-husband-republican-supporter-181804812.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Official Ballot for Sullivan County, August 6, 2026](https://www.wate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2026/07/Sullivan-County-August-6-Sample-Ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[5] [Bob Harshbarger Jr. files for Sullivan County Commission District 6 seat (Bristol Herald Courier)](https://heraldcourier.com/news/local/government-politics/article_15552dc6-8138-47f0-a749-e318481596eb.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Bob","lastname":"Harshbarger","middlename":null,"suffix":"Jr","token":"eOJ95vOD0J"},"token":"bob_harshbarger_jr"},{"candidatename":"Ken Osborne","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Ken","lastname":"Osborne","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"mhngppLCiT"},"token":"ken_osborne"},{"candidatename":"Tim L. Pullon","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Tim","lastname":"Pullon","middlename":"L.","suffix":null,"token":"rhBgebs2tg"},"token":"tim_l_pullon"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_6","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":3,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"sullivan County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.scelect.org/aug2026gensampleballot.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 6"}