Local leadership.
Real accountability.
Strong public services.
Democrats running to deliver for Anderson County.
County Commission is where the big talk becomes real life.
It’s where budgets get set. Roads get fixed (or don’t). Schools and libraries get funded (or squeezed). Emergency services get staffed. And when people feel like nobody’s listening… this is usually why.
This page is your clear guide to the Anderson County Democratic candidates running for County Commission in 2026.
These candidates will appear on the May Democratic Primary ballot. Primary winners advance to the August General Election.
State & County Primary Election | Tuesday, May 5 2026
Early Voting for May Primary:
Wednesday, April 15 - Thursday, April 30
*Request an absentee ballot for the May Primary by Saturday, April 25 2026
State & County General Election | Thursday, August 6 2026
Early Voting for August General:
Friday, July 17 - Saturday, August 1
*Request an absentee ballot for the August Election by Monday, July 27 2026
How voting works in County Commission districts
In commission races, two seats are on the ballot—which means you can cast up to two votes, and the top two vote-getters win.
That also means something important: Democratic candidates in the same district aren’t running against each other. They’re competing for one of the two available seats.
Using your vote effectively
If your district has two Democrats on the ballot, you can vote for both.
If your district has one Democrat on the ballot, you can choose to vote for just that candidate.
In a two-seat race, each vote adds directly to a candidate’s total, and totals determine who wins. So understanding this ballot format matters—especially in local elections that can come down to a handful of votes.
Your Democratic
County Commission Candidates
A lifelong Anderson County resident with county-governance and financial management experience, running to keep decisions local and manage growth responsibly. Focused on data-driven planning, protecting taxpayers, and workforce partnerships that expand training and apprenticeships.
Rodney Archer
District 3
A 50-year Anderson County resident and experienced budget leader running because he believes District 5 isn’t being properly represented. Focused on public access and accountability, protecting libraries without removing books, and stronger support for public education.
Marty May
District 5
An incumbent county commissioner and certified pharmacy technician focused on steady, practical results for Anderson County residents. Running to expand quality job pathways, strengthen infrastructure and schools as the county grows, and support public safety and community well-being.
Ebony Capshaw
DISTRICT 6
District 6A journeyman wireman and union coordinator running because he believes local government is where real change starts. Focused on living wages, education and job pathways, and leadership that listens to and respects residents.
Derek Guy
DISTRICT 7A retired ORNL supervisor and long-time District 7 resident running for steady, practical leadership rooted in community needs. Focused on infrastructure and utilities, responsible budgeting, and strong county services families rely on.
Sharon Bourgeois
District 7An incumbent commissioner with advisory and committee experience focused on accessibility and representation for Oak Ridge residents. Running to protect library access and free speech, improve ADA infrastructure, and increase transparency and follow-through in county leadership.
Stephen Verran
DISTRICT 8A school board member and community advocate running because county decisions shape everyday life for students, families, and neighborhoods. Focused on supporting Division II Court in Oak Ridge, strengthening public education, and protecting libraries as community resources.
Ashley Craven
District 8A registered nurse and long-time community volunteer running out of a love for the community and a commitment to local service. Focused on responsible planning for growth, careful stewardship of tax dollars, and support for county facilities and recreational spaces.
Liz Henry
District 3
Rodney Archer
County Governance & Financial Management
Rodney Archer is a lifelong Anderson County resident with hands-on experience in county governance and financial management. As Executive Director of the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers, he works directly with counties across the country on budgeting, fiscal responsibility, and local government operations. He also works as a financial advisor and serves on local boards in the community he calls home.
He is running because Anderson County is growing — and growth without planning costs taxpayers. Rodney believes decisions should stay local, budgeting should be disciplined, and county government should operate with competence and accountability. His professional background centers on exactly those areas: responsible budgeting, long-term planning, and cooperation that produces results.
He supports data-driven growth planning that protects infrastructure and quality of life, and partnerships between schools, workforce programs, and employers that expand real job pathways for residents. His focus is steady leadership that keeps Anderson County strong, financially sound, and locally governed.
Facebook | Email: rodneyaarcher@gmail.com
“At a time when things are being pushed from the top down, I am a strong believer in local control.”
District 5
Marty May
Management & Community Leadership
Marty May brings more than four decades of management and leadership experience, including overseeing teams and multi-million-dollar budgets. A 50-year Anderson County resident, he has served locally through the Red Cross, Mobile Meals, and the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association. His career has centered on accountability, leadership, and making sure resources are used responsibly.
After attending County Commission meetings, Marty decided to run because he believes District 5 deserves stronger representation. He wants a commissioner who shows up, communicates clearly, and is accessible to residents — including through regular town halls and open contact.
Marty is focused on protecting public libraries without removing books from shelves, supporting age-appropriate access policies, and strengthening public education through better support for teachers and classroom materials. He believes education is the backbone of the community and that county government must reflect the will of the people it serves.
Facebook | Email: martinmay@ymail.com
“Government only works when the people believe that their interests are being addressed”
District 6
Ebony Capshaw
Incumbent Commissioner & Community Advocate
Ebony Capshaw currently serves as District 6 County Commissioner and works as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. A 36-year Anderson County resident, she has been active in community and civic service in Oak Ridge and across the county.
She is running for re-election because she believes the work started this term isn’t finished and the progress made is worth protecting. She says she stepped up to serve because the community needed someone who would listen to residents and give them a voice at the table where decisions are made.
Ebony supports economic development and quality jobs, infrastructure and smart growth, and public safety and community well-being. She has emphasized workforce pathways and education partnerships aligned with local industry, including opportunities tied to nuclear energy. She has also highlighted work pursuing road safety improvements at the Sinking Springs Road, Lewallen Road, and N. Charles G. Seivers Boulevard intersection, and a coordinated effort with the Oak Ridge Housing Authority to obtain a $500,000 grant dedicated to legacy home repairs for Scarboro community residents.
“The work we started isn’t finished and the progress we’ve made is worth protecting.”
Facebook | Email: votecapshaw@gmail.com
District 6
Derek Guy
Skilled Trades & Workforce Advocate
Derek Guy is a Journeyman Wireman and serves as Membership Development and State Political Coordinator for IBEW Local 270. He has lived in Anderson County for more than 20 years and has been active in civic and volunteer work throughout the community. His career has been rooted in skilled labor, workforce development, and representing working people.
He did not set out to run for office, but chose to step forward because he believes local government is where meaningful change begins. Encouraged to get involved, he decided to practice what he tells others: if you want change, be part of it.
Derek emphasizes wages that keep pace with rising costs so families can afford housing and healthcare. He supports stronger connections between education and real career pathways — especially in skilled trades and industries shaping the region’s future. Above all, he believes county leadership should listen to residents, respect their rights, and remember who they work for.
Facebook | Email:
derek@ibewlocal270.org
“Local government is where real change starts.”
District 7
Sharon Bourgeois Capshaw
Retired ORNL Supervisor & Community Volunteer
Sharon Bourgeois Capshaw retired in 2025 after 20 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she served as an administrative assistant and supervisor. For nearly two decades she worked inside a large, complex institution — managing responsibilities, overseeing processes, and supporting operations. She has lived in District 7 for 18 years and is active in church and volunteer service throughout the community.
She is running for County Commission out of a commitment to her family and the future of Anderson County. Sharon wants her grandchildren — and the next generation — to grow up in a community with strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and dependable public services. For her, county government isn’t abstract. It’s about the infrastructure, budgeting, and services that shape everyday life.
Her priorities reflect that practical focus. She supports improving infrastructure and utilities to keep pace with growth, including sewer and water systems. She emphasizes responsible fiscal management so county budgets protect core services while being mindful of inflation and tax impact. She also highlights the importance of maintaining parks and providing oversight and long-term planning for the county’s new animal shelter facility. Sharon believes steady planning and careful budgeting are essential to keeping Anderson County strong.
Facebook | Email: sbcapshaw@yahoo.com
“I want my grandchildren to have the opportunity to be valued and successful”
District 7
Steve Verran
Incumbent Commissioner & Committee Leader
Steve Verran currently serves as District 7 County Commissioner. Born in Oak Ridge, he has experience in manufacturing and screen-printing leadership and has served on numerous advisory committees and county boards, including ADA and veterans-related committees, the Operations Committee, and previous roles on purchasing and audit committees.
He is seeking re-election with a focus on transparency, accessibility, and stronger representation for Oak Ridge residents in county decisions. He has raised concerns about county actions that affected Oak Ridge without consultation or public comment, and believes residents deserve clearer communication and follow-through from county leadership.
Steve supports equal access to public libraries and has spoken against book banning. He has also emphasized ADA accessibility improvements, noting sidewalk barriers and courthouse compliance concerns. He believes advisory committees and citizens should receive clear responses and that county government should operate with greater openness and accountability.
Facebook | Email: sverran@andersoncountytn.gov
“We need more transparency and response to Advisory Committees and citizens.”
District 8
Ashley Craven
School Board Member & Public Systems Advocate
Ashley Craven serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Education and works as a senior project specialist in veterinary administration. Through her work on the school board, she has directly engaged with the realities of public systems — budgets, student support services, and the daily decisions that affect families across the community.
She is running for County Commission because she believes county decisions shape the systems residents depend on: schools, courts, emergency services, infrastructure, and libraries. Ashley wants leadership that listens carefully, acts transparently, and focuses on practical outcomes that make life better and easier for working families.
Her priorities include maintaining Division II Court in Oak Ridge through strong county–city partnership, strengthening public education and wraparound supports like the Family Resource Center, and protecting libraries as welcoming community resources while respecting parental discretion. She brings experience working inside public institutions and believes those systems function best when leadership is accountable and community-focused.
Website | Facebook | Email: voteacraven@gmail.com
“Government exists to make our lives better and easier, not harder. We need leaders who recognize that.”
District 8
Liz Henry
Registered Nurse & Community Servant
Elizabeth “Liz” Henry is a Registered Nurse and Diabetes Educator at the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge and also teaches water aerobics and swimming. She has deep roots in Anderson County and a long record of volunteer service — including healthcare outreach, civic board participation, election service, and community support efforts.
She is running because of her connection to the community and her belief that growth requires responsibility. Anderson County has experienced steady growth in recent years, and Liz believes county leadership must maintain roads and bridges, update schools, support affordable housing, and steward tax dollars carefully so growth strengthens rather than strains the community.
She also emphasizes the importance of shared public resources — including libraries, parks, the animal shelter, and the district’s greenway and recreational assets — as part of what makes the area a strong place to live. Liz’s candidacy reflects a service-oriented approach rooted in healthcare, community involvement, and practical local problem-solving.
Facebook | Email: elizabethbartlett14@gmail.com
“As a Commissioner, I would strive to be a good steward of tax dollars in all budget decisions.”
Anderson County deserves commissioners who show up, listen, and take responsibility for the long-term strength of our community.
These candidates bring experience from education, labor, finance, healthcare, and public service — and a shared commitment to local accountability and strong public institutions.