{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Eric McElroy","chatgptsummary":"McElroy's background as a transportation engineer and service on the Franklin Transit Authority and Building Standards Board demonstrate relevant policy judgment and constituent relations experience for Williamson County Commissioner. He has no documented controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate budget literacy or legislative drafting experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEric McElroy is a Republican candidate for Williamson County Commission District 11 (Franklin area), a two-member district; the seat is open following the departure of board chairman Brian Beathard [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary McElroy took 38.43% of the vote and advanced to the August 6 general election, where the field also includes fellow Republican Marie Fellhauer and Democrats John Haynes and Steve Atkinson [1][3]. His top three priorities are intentional growth, infrastructure and traffic, and fiscal responsibility [1].\n\n## Background and career\nMcElroy describes himself as a conservative Republican, an experienced transportation engineer, and a lifelong Williamson County resident [1].\n\n## Community involvement\nHe is a member of Franklin First United Methodist Church and has served as vice chair of the Franklin Transit Authority, on the City of Franklin Building and Street Standards Board of Appeals, and in Leadership Franklin [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [About (Eric McElroy for County Commission campaign site)](https://www.mcelroy4countycommission.com/about) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Williamson County Election Results May 5, 2026 \u2014 County Primary (Williamson Source)](https://williamsonsource.com/williamson-county-election-results-may-5-2026-county-primary-election/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Eric","lastname":"McElroy","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Y0FjWWtG2A"},"token":"eric_mcelroy"},{"candidatename":"Marie Fellhauer","chatgptsummary":"Marie Fellhauer's twenty-five-year law enforcement career and small-business ownership demonstrate operational discipline and fiscal awareness relevant to Williamson County budgeting and public safety oversight. Her community roles with Moms for America and Rotary Club indicate constituent engagement capacity. The biography contains no record of disciplinary action or controversy. Bio does not indicate experience in legislative drafting, land use policy, or state-mandated county government continuing education.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMarie Fellhauer is a Republican candidate for Williamson County Commission District 11 (Franklin area), a two-member district for an open seat previously held by board chairman Brian Beathard [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary she took 30.89% of the vote and advanced to the August 6 general election, where the field also includes fellow Republican Eric McElroy and Democrats John Haynes and Steve Atkinson [1][3]. Her top three priorities are public safety, responsible growth, and fiscal conservativeness [1].\n\n## Background and education\nFellhauer holds a degree in mathematics with a minor in physics and astronomy from Humboldt State University [1].\n\n## Career\nShe served 25 years in law enforcement, retiring as a lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department, and is a small-business owner [1].\n\n## Community involvement\nFellhauer is a member of the Franklin Evening Rotary Club, and in 2022 she became the Williamson County group leader for Moms for America [1]. She is a member of Williamson Inc. and Brentwood Up [1].\n\n## Family\nShe is married to Justin Fellhauer, and their son, Klaus, attends Williamson County Schools [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Marie Fellhauer, Candidate for County Commissioner for District 11 (Grassroots Citizens of Williamson County)](https://www.grassrootscitizens.com/grassroots-spotlight-1/marie-fellhauer-county-commissioner-candidate-district-11) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Williamson County Election Results May 5, 2026 \u2014 County Primary (Williamson Source)](https://williamsonsource.com/williamson-county-election-results-may-5-2026-county-primary-election/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Marie","lastname":"Fellhauer","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"10jIfxDVi1"},"token":"marie_fellhauer"},{"candidatename":"John E. Haynes","chatgptsummary":"John E. Haynes's biography shows healthcare and pastoral leadership relevant to constituent relations for Williamson County Commission District 11. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or land use policy.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJohn E. Haynes is a Democratic candidate for Williamson County Commission District 11 (Franklin area), a two-member district whose general-election field also includes Republicans Eric McElroy and Marie Fellhauer and fellow Democrat Steve Atkinson [1][2]. His campaign message is \"It Don't Matter the Race, Creed, or Color: We Need Each Other\" [3].\n\n## Career\nHaynes has worked on the front lines of healthcare and serves as pastor at Burns Tabernacle; he is often referred to as \"Elder Haynes\" [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [County Commission incumbents up against dozens of candidates vying for a seat (Williamson Herald)](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/county-commission-incumbents-up-against-dozens-of-candidates-vying-for-seat-on-the-commission/article_add50868-edcb-41f3-ad43-67f482d3ef2b.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [John Haynes for Williamson Co Commission (campaign site)](https://johnhaynesforoffice.com/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"John","lastname":"Haynes","middlename":"E.","suffix":null,"token":"rTXf5i1rzw"},"token":"john_e_haynes"},{"candidatename":"Steve Atkinson","chatgptsummary":"Steve Atkinson's decades as a journalist demonstrate skills in evaluating needs and community collaboration relevant to constituent relations and policy judgment. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, legislative drafting, or Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nSteve Atkinson is a Democratic candidate for Williamson County Commission District 11 (Franklin area), a two-member district whose general-election field also includes Republicans Eric McElroy and Marie Fellhauer and fellow Democrat John Haynes [1][2]. His campaign centers on three pillars: conscious growth to safeguard historical character and open spaces, community collaboration through empathy-based leadership, and a lasting legacy focused on children, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability [3].\n\n## Background and career\nAtkinson and his wife, Katherine, relocated to Tennessee in 2022 and settled in Franklin [3]. He spent decades working as a journalist, and says that experience shapes his approach of \"listening to our neighbors, evaluating needs, finding collective solutions\" [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [County Commission incumbents up against dozens of candidates vying for a seat (Williamson Herald)](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/county-commission-incumbents-up-against-dozens-of-candidates-vying-for-seat-on-the-commission/article_add50868-edcb-41f3-ad43-67f482d3ef2b.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [The Vision for Williamson County (Atkinson campaign site)](https://www.atkinson4williamsoncc11.com/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Steve","lastname":"Atkinson","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"HJm3rsELNx"},"token":"steve_atkinson"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_11","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":"2026-07-19","title":"williamson County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29486/2026-August-ExpressVote-GEN"},"title":"County Commission District 11"}