{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JOSH EDENS","chatgptsummary":"Josh Edens's biography shows relevant experience as a Washington County Commissioner serving on Health, Public Safety, and Purchasing committees, demonstrating legislative process familiarity and constituent relations through district representation. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior budget literacy or state-required continuing education experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJosh Edens is the Republican candidate for the Washington County Commission's District 4 seat in the August 6, 2026 county general election, running against Democrat Shelley Van Camp and independent Otto C. Kiehl [1][2]. He is currently serving his first term on the commission [1].\n\n## Background and education\nEdens's father, Daniel \"Danny\" Edens, represented Washington County on the commission for more than 16 years. A U.S. Air Force veteran, the elder Edens worked for the Jonesborough Water Department for over 25 years before retiring from the Town of Jonesborough, and died on November 11, 2024, at age 60 [3].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nOn the commission, Edens serves as secretary of the Health, Education and Welfare Committee, vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, and secretary of the Purchasing Committee, and also sits on the Washington County Economic Development Council and the county's Water Task Force [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Josh Edens | Washington County, TN](https://www.washingtoncountytn.org/212/Josh-Edens) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [One Vote Election Project Washington County \u2014 Tennessee Democracy Network](https://www.tndemocracynetwork.org/onevotewashington) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [Daniel David Edens Obituary \u2014 Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services](https://www.dillow-taylor.com/view.php?r=5436) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n","firstname":"JOSH","lastname":"EDENS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"426yDGoadw"},"token":"josh_edens"},{"candidatename":"SHELLEY VAN CAMP","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"SHELLEY","lastname":"CAMP","middlename":"VAN","suffix":null,"token":"rwUCdeL3hA"},"token":"shelley_van_camp"},{"candidatename":"OTTO C. KIEHL","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"OTTO","lastname":"KIEHL","middlename":"C.","suffix":null,"token":"mk0W2IQX8J"},"token":"otto_c_kiehl"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_4","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":"2026-07-02","title":"Washington County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"http://www.wcecoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Full-Sample-Ballots.pdf"},"title":"County Commissioner District 4"}