'Time for a change': Scott Stewart runs for Hawkins County sheriff

HAWKINS COUNTY — Scott Stewart recently announced his candidacy for Hawkins County sheriff in the 2026 elections. He is the assistant director of the Third Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force. "I've worked in the sheriff's office for 22 years, and I feel like it's time for a change in administration," Stewart said. "It's time for a new look on how we do some things that we do." He also said he's a better fit than other candidates to accomplish the goals that need to be focused on. Although, Stewart said, he isn't running against anyone, but rather for the office. Stewart said he's been in emergency services — "something with a light and a siren on it" — since high school. He's been a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member and emergency medical technician. In 2003, he started at the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office. Since then, he said, he's worked in every major division, from corrections to patrol to criminal investigations. Stewart has worked in narcotics for over a decade on the regional drug task force. Through the task force, he said he was assigned to an FBI high-intensity drug trafficking area task force. "My experience from working in all that, and then working with all those other agencies, has brought me to have a general overlook of how everything runs," Stewart said. He also said he's built relationships with people across Tennessee, thanks to the task forces, which could help with inter-county cases. Stewart said he'd use those relationship-building skills in Hawkins too, particularly with other emergency services. The task forces also allowed Stewart to see how various local, state and federal agencies handle similar problems in different ways, he said. "I've seen places do things that seemed to really work, and [I want] to implement some of those policies," Stewart said. One of Stewart's top goals is to get the sheriff's office fully staffed, as it has struggled to retain employees. "I feel like I could hold those positions longer than what's happening right now," he said. Stewart said he wants employees — "from the bottom to the top" — to feel they have a voice in decision-making. This would improve morale, he said. "When you give people a chance to make a decision that affects them on the things they're doing every single day, they feel more of a team," Stewart said. "They feel like they're not just a number and their opinion is more valued." Another goal is to increase response capabilities. Stewart said he has new ideas to prevent people from waiting for extended periods of time for officers to show up when called. Stewart also said he wants to create more buy-in from the Hawkins community by being transparent and communicative with them and the media. "When we have incidents, those first two hours are crucial for the citizens to get information," he said. "You don't have to divulge anything but give some general information to where they understand [to avoid an area]." He said this can also help stop the spread of misinformation. Stewart said he wants Hawkins County Sheriff's Office to be the gold standard for law enforcement in the country. And that, he said, comes down to the people. "People need to feel like they have a voice," Stewart said. "They need to feel like they have access to talk to the sheriff, to administrators, to be able to walk up to a deputy at a convenience store and say, 'Hey, I've got a question. Can you help me?' And feel like they've actually been helped or heard." 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; Commissioner and HCSO detective Chad Britton; state trooper David Good; Church Hill Police Department Assistant Chief Roddy Miller. 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.