Detective, County Commissioner Chad Britton runs for Hawkins sheriff

HAWKINS COUNTY — Chad Britton is running for Hawkins County sheriff in the 2026 elections. He is a detective in the sheriff's office and a county commissioner. Britton said running for sheriff has been the culmination of a lifelong dream. A Hawkins native, Britton graduated from a police academy in Ohio in 1996. He worked at a sheriff's office there in the jail, on patrol and as a school resource officer. Britton has worked at the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office for a little over 18 years. After working on patrol, he has been a detective since 2013. He's also been a Hawkins County commissioner since 2022. As Britton can't run for two offices at once, he is not seeking reelection for his commission seat. "The main reason I ran for commission was to get four years of firsthand experience on how the county government operates before running for sheriff," he said. "I have learned a lot." Britton said, if elected sheriff, he wants to decrease the number of criminals who reoffend. "My top goal is to curtail the recidivism rate of the jail, whether it be through programs or working with the judges," Britton said. "[I want] to get people the assistance they need so they're not in a position where they need to break the law to try to survive." He also plans to get the community more involved with law enforcement. That way, Britton said, residents don't only interact with officers when they have a concern. Britton also noted a need for the sheriff's office to respond to more car accidents. "We, as a county and the citizens, can't wait on the highway patrol to come and work almost every wreck," he said. 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 HCSO Chief Deputy Tony Allen; Church Hill Police Department Assistant Chief Roddy Miller; state trooper David Good; 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.