'The next level': Tony Allen runs for Hawkins County sheriff

HAWKINS COUNTY — Chief Deputy Tony Allen has been running for Hawkins County sheriff for 25 years. Officially, his campaign for the 2026 elections began on July 4, 2025, but Allen said he's never hid his aspiration. He knew in the late 1990s, when then-Sheriff Wayne Clevenger asked Allen what he wanted to do, that he wanted to be sheriff. "I love going to work and serving the community. It's a calling," Allen said. "Whenever people are in need, they're looking for somebody, I've always liked being that person to help them." Allen started at the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office 30 years ago. He said he's worked in every division and supervised them. Working under four sheriffs throughout his career, Allen said he's seen what does and doesn't work. For the last 15 years, he has served as chief deputy — longer than anyone else has held the position. Allen helps run the agency's daily operations, from working with Sheriff Ronnie Lawson to the mayor's office to the county commission. "My role right now is to support my sheriff, and I'm looking forward to bringing my ideas to the table," he said. One of those ideas is that the sheriff's office is a customer service team. Allen said they should deliver professional assistance to each and every call. "It could be that their loved one has been incarcerated, and they don't know how to make a phone call. It could be the single mother who's gotten her car broken into. It could even be the person who's trying to find the courtroom they need to go to," Allen said. "Every call is important." The sheriff's office should also, he said, get better at using social media as an information tool. Allen said he is excited about the opportunity to be Hawkins County's sheriff. "If you look at the history of what we've done in the last 15 years, we've grown. We have set goals and accomplished them," he said. "I believe I am the guy that can take us on to the next level." This is part of an ongoing series of candidate profiles for Hawkins County races. Primary elections for county offices will be held on May 5, 2026. General elections will be on Aug. 6. Other candidates for Hawkins County sheriff include Commissioner and HCSO detective Chad Britton; state trooper David Good; Church Hill Police Department Assistant Chief Roddy Miller; and Scott Stewart, the assistant director of the Third Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force. Karesa G. Floyd Charles has also picked up a candidate petition. Current Sheriff Ronnie Lawson will not seek reelection, retiring in August 2026 after 16 years in the position.