Local Election Update: Who Has Pulled a Petition and How to Become a Candidate
UPDATED: 2/13/26 – This article will be updated weekly, so check back for updates.
Over 50 Hardeman County residents have picked up petitions for the upcoming election, expressing their interest in running for one of the 32 positions that will be on the ballot in 2026.
Listed below, you will find the available positions, the current elected official holding each office, individuals who picked up petitions, and the party(s) affiliation indicated on their petition.
COUNTY MAYOR
County Mayor – position currently held by Todd Pulse
Petitions for County Mayor have been picked up by:
Greg Bennett – Republican
Christopher Cox – Independent
Brad Grantham – Republican
Todd Pulse – Democrat
COUNTY COMMISSION
County Commission District 1, Position 1 – position currently held by Brad Grantham
Petitions have been picked up by:
Ben Davis III – Independent
County Commission District 1, Position 2 – position currently held by Jackie Sain
Petitions have been picked up by:
Jackie Sain – Independent
County Commission District 1, Position 3 – position currently held by Michion Gatlin
Petitions have been picked up by:
Michion Gatlin – Democrat
County Commission District 2, Position 1 – position currently held by Bethany Miller
Petitions have been picked up by:
Erica Woods – Democrat
County Commission District 2, Position 2 – position currently held by John Weems
Petitions have been picked up by:
John Weems – Democrat
County Commission District 3, Position 1 – position currently held by Chandra Lake
Petitions have been picked up by:
Chandra Lake – Democrat
County Commission District 3, Position 2 – position currently held by Cory Bufford
Petitions have been picked up by:
Cory Buford – Democrat
County Commission District 4, Position 1 – position currently held by Bobby Hensley
Petitions have been picked up by:
Bobby Hensley – Republican
County Commission District 5, Position 1 – position currently held by Johnny Lanier, Jr.
Petitions have been picked up by:
Johnny Lanier Jr. – Independent
County Commission District 5, Position 2 – position currently held by David Bell
Petitions have been picked up by:
David Bell – Republican
Jonathan Luttrell – Republican
Shara Gatlin – Democrat
County Commission District 5, Position 3 – position currently held by Jeff Kennamore
Petitions have been picked up by:
Jeff Kennamore – Independent
Johnny Max Lanier – Independent
Jonathan Luttrell – Republican
County Commission District 6, Position 1 – position currently held by John Vickers
Petitions have been picked up by:
Lane Lanier – Independent
Patric Stewart – Independent
County Commission District 7, Position 1 – position currently held by Russell DeBerry
Petitions have been picked up by:
Russell DeBerry – Independent
County Commission District 7, Position 2 – position currently held by Mark Gilliam
Petitions have been picked up by:
Tina Bellamy – Republican
Terry Howell – Independent
County Commission District 8, Position 1 – position currently held by Bobby Wright
Petitions have been picked up by:
Bobby Wright – Republican
County Commission District 9, Position 1 – position currently held by Joseph Jenkins
Petitions have been picked up by:
Joseph Jenkins – Democrat
Andrew Skic – Republican
COUNTY TRUSTEE
County Trustee – position currently held by Sandy Hammons
Petitions have been picked up by:
Sandy Hammons – Independent
SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Sheriff – position currently held by John Doolen
Petitions have been picked up by:
John Doolen – Democrat & Independent
David Nabors – Republican
Antonio Parham – Democrat
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
Circuit Court Clerk – position currently held by Eunice Gudger
Petitions have been picked up by:
Jennifer Burkeen – Republican and Independent
Eunice Gudger – Democrat
COUNTY CLERK
County Clerk – position currently held by Tonet Griggs
Petitions have been picked up by:
Tonet Griggs – Democrat
Ron Pirtle – Republican
John Vickers – Republican and Independent
Roger Clifton – Republican
REGISTER’S OFFICE
Register of Deeds – position currently held by Lily Barnes
Petitions have been picked up by:
Virlene Brown – Democrat and Independent
Hannah Clifton – Republican
Mark Gilliam – Republican
Elizabeth Stevens – Republican and Independent
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Road Superintendent – position currently held by Casey Swift
Petitions have been picked up by:
Casey Swift – Democrat
James Jackson Jr. – Independent
Road Supervisor, District 1 – position currently held by John Mitchell
Petitions have been picked up by:
John Mitchell – Democrat
Road Supervisor, District 2 – position currently held by Danny Davila
Petitions have been picked up by:
Trevor Bell – Republican
Anthony Russell – Republican
Road Supervisor, District 3 – position currently held by Mark McCrory
Petitions have been picked up by:
Mark McCrory – Independent
SCHOOL BOARD
School Board District 1, Position 1 – position currently held by Kenny Adkins
Petitions have been picked up by:
Towanda Murden – Democrat
Kenny Adkins – Independent
School Board District 1, Position 2 – position currently held by Bradford Polk
Petitions have been picked up by:
Bradford Polk – Democrat
Danita Woods – Democrat
School Board District 1, Position 3 – position currently held by Bobby Henderson, Jr.
Petitions have been picked up by:
Larry McKinnie – Democrat
Quintessa Stewart – Democrat
Cecilia Hadley – Independent
School Board District 2, Position 1 – position currently held by Patricia Carter
Petitions have been picked up by:
Michelle Griffin – Democrat
Keith Bollendorf – Republican
School Board District 2, Position 3 – position currently held by Gene Ross
Petitions have been picked up by:
Algie Jarett – Democrat
Tanisha Mitchell – Democrat
Gene Ross – Independent
School Board District 3, Position 2 – position currently held by Jennifer Aylor
Petitions have been picked up by:
Jennifer Aylor – Independent
Latreace Brown – Democrat
Erica Garrison – Republican
32 Hardeman County positions will be up for election in 2026. The County Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, and the General Election will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026. The first day to pick up petitions is Monday, December 22, 2025.
How to Become a Candidate
To start the process of becoming a candidate, you must first pick up a petition from the Hardeman County Election Commission at 227 Lucy Black Road, Bolivar, Tennessee 38008, beginning on Monday, December 22, 2025. Then you must obtain at least 25 valid signatures of registered voters in the district where you are running.
The Qualifying Petition must be returned to the Hardeman County Election Commission no later than Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 12 p.m. The withdrawal deadline is Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 12 p.m.
For more information, contact the Hardeman County Election Commission at 227 Lucy Black Road, Bolivar, Tennessee 38008, or by phone (731) 658-4751.
The Hardeman County Election Commission members are Carl Gibson, Donald Young, Joan Henderson, James Hicks, and Sharolyn Mitchell. Amber D. Moore is the Hardeman County Administrator of Elections.
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