First filing deadline: DecemberDec. 2027 (expected)

Put your name on the 2028 ballot

There are 16 seats on the 2028 ballot we need candidates to run for: Assessor of Property, School Board, offices in Algood, Baxter and Monterey, and State House Districts 25 and 42. If you've thought about running, we'll help you get there.

Putnam County General Election
August 2028
Assessor of Property Vote for one
Your name
School Board Member, District 3 Vote for one
Council Member, Algood Vote for two
And 13 more seats in 2028See them
I'm Interested in Running See the 16 Open Seats

Takes about two minutes. No commitment to run.

Stacye, Brendan, Shayne and Sara ran and won. Meet them

What's on the 2028 Ballot

Open any office to see what the job involves, then mark the seats you'd consider. They'll be checked on your interest form.

Assessor of Property

Countywide, 1 seat

Who votes
All of Putnam County
Term
4 years, starting Sept. 1, 2028
How you get on the ballot
Party primary, then August election
Partisan
Serving now
Steve Pierce

The one full-time, salaried job on this list.

What the job involves

The work

Finds, lists, classifies and values all real and personal property in the county for tax purposes. Keeps parcel records and maps, processes greenbelt and exemption applications, and defends assessments before the county and state boards of equalization. Leads an office of deputy assessors and carries out the state-required countywide reappraisal.

Time

Full time. This is a career change, not a volunteer role. You'll need an official bond approved by the County Commission, plus state training and certification through the State Board of Equalization.

Pay

Salary is set by state law for counties Putnam's size, and the County Commission can set it higher. The floor was $94,336 in FY2021–22 and has gone up every July 1 since. The state adds $750–$1,500 a year for professional designations and up to $1,500 for completing county officials' certification. County benefits include TCRS retirement and health insurance.

Who can run

Anyone who meets the general qualifications for county office. The state sets the training and certification you'll complete once in office.

School Board Member

Districts 1, 3 and 5, 3 seats

Who votes
Voters in each school board district
Term
4 years, on a six-member board
How you get on the ballot
Party primary, then August election
Partisan
Also up later
Districts 2, 4 and 6 in 2030
  • District 1County Commission Districts 1 and 6 Serving now: Dr. Dawn Fry, board vice chair
  • District 3County Commission Districts 11 and 12 Serving now: Kim Cravens
  • District 5County Commission Districts 7 and 8 Serving now: Lynn McHenry, board chair
Don't know your district? The Putnam County Election Commission can tell you.
What the job involves

The work

Hires and evaluates the Director of Schools, adopts policy, sets the calendar and approves the budget for a district of about 11,700 students in 22 schools. Approves personnel actions on the director's recommendation and plans long-term for school buildings.

Time

About 8–15 hours a month, more during spring budget season. The board meets the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Central Office, 1400 E. Spring St., plus work sessions, committee assignments and annual state-required training.

Pay

A modest stipend set by the County Commission. It can't be more than commissioners are paid and can't be cut from the year before.

Who can run

Putnam County residents and registered voters with a high school diploma or GED. County commissioners and other county officials can't serve, and neither can anyone in a paid job with the school board. If a relative works for the school system, you disclose it before voting on anything affecting their job. That's disclosure, not disqualification, so a teacher's spouse can serve.

Algood City Council

City of Algood, 2 seats

Who votes
City of Algood
Term
4 years
How you get on the ballot
File for the August election
Nonpartisan
Serving now
Luke Hill, Roger Williams
What the job involves

The work

Adopts city ordinances and the annual budget, sets the property tax rate, and oversees utilities, zoning and personnel policy.

Time

A regular monthly council meeting plus occasional called meetings and committee work. A few hours most months.

Pay

A small monthly or per-meeting stipend set by the city.

Mayor of Baxter

Town of Baxter, 1 seat

Who votes
Town of Baxter
Term
4 years
How you get on the ballot
File for the August election
Nonpartisan
Serving now
Danny Holmes
What the job involves

The work

In a town Baxter's size, the mayor's job is usually a working one: presiding over the council, preparing the budget and overseeing the town's day-to-day business.

Pay

A small stipend set by the town.

Baxter Town Council

Town of Baxter, 2 seats

Who votes
Town of Baxter
Term
4 years
How you get on the ballot
File for the August election
Nonpartisan
Serving now
Jeff Herald, Dustin Stanton
What the job involves

The work

Passes town ordinances and the budget, and oversees utilities and zoning.

Pay

A small stipend set by the town.

Mayor of Monterey

Town of Monterey, 1 seat

Who votes
Town of Monterey
Term
2 years
How you get on the ballot
File for the August election
Nonpartisan
Serving now
Chris Landers
What the job involves

The work

Presides over board meetings and votes on all issues, makes sure ordinances are enforced, can fill vacancies in offices other than alderman, and can remit fines and costs from town court. Since a 2026 charter change, a full-time town administrator serves as chief financial officer and coordinates the town's departments.

Time

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Monterey Municipal Building.

Pay

Set by the board before the election, and it can't change during the term. The 2028 amount should be public well before the filing deadline.

Monterey Alderman

Wards 1–4, 4 seats

Who votes
All Monterey Wards
Term
4 years, staggered
How you get on the ballot
File for the August election
Nonpartisan
Where you must live
In the ward you represent
  • Ward 1 Serving now: Kevin Peters
  • Ward 2 Serving now: Larry D. Bennett
  • Ward 3 Serving now: Cecilia Paulsen
  • Ward 4 Serving now: Jamie Phillips
What the job involves

How the board works

Monterey has eight aldermen, two per ward. Every voter in town votes for each ward's seat, but you must live in the ward you represent. The alderman with the most votes also serves as vice mayor. Four seats, one per ward, are up every two years.

The work

Votes on town ordinances, the budget and the tax levy alongside the mayor. The board meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Monterey Municipal Building.

Pay

Set by the board before the election, and it can't change during the term.

Tennessee State House

Districts 25 and 42, 2 seats

Who votes
Voters in each district; both include parts of Putnam County
Term
2 years
How you get on the ballot
August primary, November general
Partisan
Where you serve
The General Assembly in Nashville
What the job involves

The work

Writes and votes on state laws and the state budget, serves on committees, and helps constituents with state agencies.

Time

The legislative session starts in January in Nashville and usually runs into spring. Constituent work and committee meetings continue year-round.

Who can run

You must be at least 21, a U.S. citizen, a Tennessee resident for three years, and a resident of the county you'd represent for the year before the election.

Your Road to August 2028

The first filing deadline is about a year away. Assessor and School Board candidates go through a March primary, so they file first.

  1. Now through 2027

    Get ready

    Talk with PCDP, choose a seat, and start building your team and your name recognition. Both take longer than most people expect.

  2. Mid-October 2027Expected

    Nominating petitions open for the March primary

    The Election Commission starts issuing petitions about two months before the qualifying deadline. In the 2024 cycle, that was October 16, 2023. Each petition needs 25 valid signatures from registered voters who live where the seat is.

    Assessor and School Board

  3. Mid-December 2027Expected

    Qualifying deadline for the primary

    File your completed petition with the Putnam County Election Commission by noon on deadline day. In the 2024 cycle, the deadline was December 14, 2023, with one more week to withdraw.

    Assessor and School Board

  4. March 7, 2028

    Party primary

    Held with Tennessee's presidential primary, as it was on March 5, 2024. Each party picks its nominees for the August ballot.

    Assessor and School Board

  5. Spring 2028Expected

    Qualifying deadline for town races and State House

    Same petition process, 25 signatures. In the 2024 cycle, petitions opened February 5 and the deadline was April 4. In 2026 the deadline came earlier, on March 10, so plan for March.

    Algood, Baxter, Monterey and State House

  6. August 3, 2028

    Election day for local seats

    Voters decide Assessor, School Board, and the Algood, Baxter and Monterey seats. It's also the State House primary. These same offices were last on the ballot on August 1, 2024.

    All local seats; State House primary

  7. November 7, 2028

    General election

    State House races are decided alongside the presidential election.

    State House

Election dates follow Tennessee law. Dates marked "Expected" are based on the 2024 cycle, the last time these seats were on the ballot. The Putnam County Election Commission publishes the official 2028 calendar, so confirm with them before you file: putnamcountytn.gov/election-commission or (931) 526-2566.

Current PCDP Candidates Serving in Office

They ran, they won, and now they serve you.

  • Stacye Choate, Putnam County Commissioner, District 2
    • County Commission
    • District 2

    Stacye Choate

    Putnam County Commissioner, District 2

    • Planning CommitteeMember and secretary
    • ADA CommitteeMember
  • Brendan Laney, Putnam County Commissioner, District 3
    • County Commission
    • District 3

    Brendan Laney

    Putnam County Commissioner, District 3

    • Planning CommitteeMember
  • Shayne Bilbrey, Putnam County Commissioner, District 3
    • County Commission
    • District 3

    Shayne Bilbrey

    Putnam County Commissioner, District 3

    • Delinquent Tax CommitteeMember
    • Fiscal Review CommitteeMember
    • Rail Trail AuthorityBoard Member
  • Sara Kruszka, Democratic State Executive Committeewoman, Senate District 15
    • State Executive Committee
    • Senate District 15

    Sara Kruszka

    Democratic State Executive Committeewoman, Senate District 15

    • County Party Development Committee
    • Bylaws Committee
    • Cyber Security Committee

You Won't Run Alone

We're here to help your campaign however we can.

  • Volunteers

    People to knock doors, stuff envelopes, place yard signs and staff events.

  • Training and mentorship on campaign strategy

    Plan your campaign with people who've run here before, from your message to your budget.

  • Voter outreach

    Help with phone banking, canvassing and texting so you reach the voters in your district.

  • Fundraising support

    Set a realistic goal, build your donor list and make the ask.

  • Advice on compliance

    Filing for office, naming a campaign treasurer and following campaign finance rules.

  • Collaborating with other Democratic candidates

    Shared events, joint literature and a slate of neighbors running together.

  • Social media and digital promotion

    Content, video and amplification across PCDP's channels.

  • Help with everything

    Not sure where to start? That's what we're here for.

Tell Us You're Interested

Sending this form doesn't commit you to running. It starts a conversation, and we'll be in touch.

  1. You send the formIt takes about two minutes.
  2. Someone from PCDP reaches outWe'll talk through the seat, the timeline and your questions.
  3. We build your plan togetherPetitions, filing, fundraising and a team to help.

Candidate Interest Form 2028

Fields marked are required

  1. Your seat
  2. About you
  3. Support

Step 1 of 3: Your seat

What office are you considering? Choose all that apply.

Countywide

School Board

Algood and Baxter

Monterey

State

Choose at least one office.

Not sure? The Election Commission can tell you, or choose "I'm not sure."

Choose your district, or choose "I'm not sure."

We only use your information to follow up about running.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does filling out the interest form commit me to running?

No. It tells us you're curious. Someone from PCDP will reach out to talk it through, and you decide from there.

Not sure which seat fits? Check the ones you're curious about and we'll help you weigh them.

Can a Democrat win in Putnam County?

Yes. Four PCDP Democrats hold office right now. Meet them.

Town races in Algood, Baxter and Monterey are nonpartisan, so there's no party label next to your name. Local races are also close: in 2024, an Algood City Council seat was decided by one vote, 149 to 148, and a Monterey alderman race ended in a 135–135 tie.

Some seats had no race at all. In 2024, the Assessor of Property and all three School Board seats on the 2028 ballot each had only one name on the ballot. When no one runs, voters don't get a choice.

Do I need political experience?

No. What matters most for local office is knowing your community: the issues, the people, and how local meetings work. The campaign side can be learned, and we'll teach it.

How much time will it take?

Serving ranges from a few hours a month on a town council to about 8–15 hours a month on the School Board. Assessor of Property is a full-time job. Open any seat in 2028 Open Seats for details.

For most local candidates, campaigning happens on evenings and weekends, and it's busiest in the last few months before the election. We'll help you build a plan around your job and family.

What does it cost, and do I have to fundraise?

Town and School Board races can run on a small budget of signs, cards and door-knocking. Countywide and State House races cost more.

Before you raise or spend any money, Tennessee requires you to appoint a political treasurer (you can be your own) and file it with the Putnam County Election Commission. Local campaigns that raise and spend less than $1,000 may be exempt from some reporting, but not every office qualifies, so check with the Election Commission. We'll help you set a budget and raise it.

Can I run if I work for the government, a school or Tennessee Tech?

Usually, yes. Under the federal Hatch Act, most state and local employees can run for office, even in partisan races, unless their salary is paid entirely by federal loans or grants. The Hatch Act doesn't restrict running in nonpartisan races like Algood, Baxter and Monterey. Check your employer's own policy too.

One firm rule: School Board members can't hold a paid job with the school system.

How do I get on the ballot?

You pick up a nominating petition from the Putnam County Election Commission, collect at least 25 signatures from registered voters who live where the seat is, and file it by noon on the qualifying deadline. The Election Commission suggests collecting about 45 in case some signatures can't be counted. Photocopied petitions aren't accepted.

We'll help you with every step, including the signatures.

When do I need to decide?

For Assessor and School Board, the filing deadline is expected in mid-December 2027. In the 2024 cycle it was December 14. For town races and State House, it's expected in March or April 2028.

Starting early makes everything easier. Signatures, fundraising and name recognition all take time.

Your Name Belongs on the 2028 Ballot

The interest form takes about two minutes and doesn't commit you to anything. Not ready to run yet? Volunteer on a 2028 campaign and help elect Democrats in Putnam County.

I'm Interested in Running

Volunteer on a 2028 Campaign

Tell us how you'd like to help and we'll match you with Democratic campaigns in Putnam County. Fields marked are required.

Enter your full name.

Enter an email address like name@example.com.

Enter a phone number with area code.

How would you like to help? Choose all that apply.

Choose at least one way to help.

When are you usually available?
A candidate you'd like to help, skills you bring, or questions.

Go to the form