{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"DAVID C. STOUT","chatgptsummary":"David C. Stout's biography shows relevant experience for Washington County Commissioner through his tenure as a district commissioner since late 2024 and prior leadership roles in corporate health services and military administration. His background includes education from Carson-Newman University and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. The record notes criticism regarding his interim appointment process in September 2024. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval, tax rate setting, or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid C. Stout is the Republican incumbent representing Washington County Commission's 9th District, seeking his first full term on August 6, 2026 against Democrat Sarah Laposky [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nStout is a graduate of Carson-Newman University and of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma [3]. He has lived in District 9 with his wife for more than 30 years [3].\n\n## Career\nStout is a retired major in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he served 22 years [4]. He is retired from United Telephone/Sprint, where he was a division manager, and spent 15 years as Director of Corporate Health Services for Mountain States Health Alliance [3][4].\n\n## Office history\nStout was appointed to the District 9 seat on September 23, 2024, to fill the vacancy left by the death of longtime Commissioner Suzy Williams, and was sworn in ahead of the commission's November session; he was subsequently elected to the seat in a November 2024 special election [4][5][6].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nStout's September 2024 interim appointment, made ahead of the election to fill the seat, drew criticism from Washington County Democrats, who said the appointment interfered with the upcoming election [5].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David Stout](https://www.washingtoncountytn.org/217/David-Stout) \u2014 Washington County, TN, accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [One Vote Election Project Washington County](https://www.tndemocracynetwork.org/onevotewashington) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [Meet the candidates running for Washington County, Tennessee commission](https://wcyb.com/news/local/meet-the-candidates-running-for-washington-county-tennessee-commission) \u2014 WCYB, accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [Stout sworn in as Washington County, TN commissioner](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/stout-sworn-in-as-washington-county-tn-commissioner/) \u2014 WJHL, accessed 2026-07-06\n[5] [Washington County, Tenn. Commission fills vacant District 9 seat with pushback](https://www.wjhl.com/news/your-local-election-hq/washington-county-tenn-commission-fills-vacant-district-9-seat-with-pushback/) \u2014 WJHL, accessed 2026-07-06\n[6] [Washington County, Tenn. Commissioner Suzy Williams passes away](https://wcyb.com/news/local/washington-county-tennessee-commissioner-suzy-williams-passes-away-district-9-johnson-city) \u2014 WCYB, accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"DAVID","lastname":"STOUT","middlename":"C.","suffix":null,"token":"xZU8w6xUr4"},"token":"david_c_stout"},{"candidatename":"SARAH LAPOSKY","chatgptsummary":"Sarah Laposky's fourteen-year tenure as Director of Visitor Communication and Events at Hands On! Discovery Center demonstrates sustained community engagement and organizational management relevant to constituent relations. Her biography contains no record of disciplinary action or controversy. Bio does not indicate experience in county budgeting, legislative drafting, or Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSarah Laposky is a Democratic candidate for the Washington County Commission's 9th District seat in the county general election on August 6, 2026, running against Republican incumbent David C. Stout [1][2]. Describing herself as \"not a career politician,\" her campaign says she brings \"over a decade\" of community involvement and a commitment to being \"accessible\" to constituents; it describes itself as \"grassroots and community-powered,\" funded through individual ActBlue contributions [1].\n\n## Background and education\nLaposky grew up in Greeneville, Tennessee, and attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, where she has lived for her adult life [1].\n\n## Career\nShe has spent nearly 14 years at Hands On! Discovery Center, where she currently serves as Director of Visitor Communication and Events [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Sarah Laposky for Washington County Commission](https://sarahlaposky.com/) \u2014 campaign site, accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [One Vote Election Project Washington County](https://www.tndemocracynetwork.org/onevotewashington) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"SARAH","lastname":"LAPOSKY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"rEhjOztLr5"},"token":"sarah_laposky"}],"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":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 9"}