Voter Guide

Find Your Races

Montgomery County Sheriff Choose 1

The Sheriff is elected for a term of four years and may succeed himself. There are no term limits.The Sheriffs of Tennessee are equally responsible to the inhabitants within the incorporated cities of their respective county as they are to the inhabitants outside the city limits.The Sheriff is charged with more statutory duties and responsibilities than any other elected or appointed official in the state.The duties of the Sheriff include, but are not limited to:Suppress all affrays, riots, unlawful assemblies, insurrections and breaches of the peace.Detection of criminal activities, arrest of offenders, and investigation of all felonious activity within the county, including vice violations.Responsible for the execution and return of all civil process and orders of the court according to law, the execution and return of all writs, delinquent taxes, and other processes legally issued, and to the levying of all executions which are delivered to his office.The Sheriff is the keeper of the county jail, required to take charge and custody of the prisoners therein and to receive those lawfully committed and keep them until they are discharged by law.

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Dexter Mines (Ind)

Biographical Information

Campaign Phone 9318013824
Campaign Website http://minesforsheriff.com
Campaign Instagram URL http://mines.dexter
Campaign Facebook URL http://minesforsheriff.com/
Candidate- Why I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a local police officer named Joe Herman inspired my career in law enforcement. He did more than patrol our neighborhood. He built relationships, played sports with us, treated everyone with dignity and respect, and always kept his word. Watching his example showed me what policing should be. By age 11, I knew I wanted to become a police officer. My commitment has been to build trust, protect people, and make a positive difference in the lives of those I serve. The example Joe showed us drives me every day to pay it forward.
Candidate- What I am seeking the office of Sheriff for Montgomery County, TN. I am committed to fostering a community where all residents experience safety, respect, and value in their daily lives. My objective is to establish a Sheriff's Office founded on principles of transparency, trust-building, community engagement, and professional excellence, ensuring that all personnel are consistently supported by proven leadership.
Candidate- How Public safety begins with trust. As Sheriff, I will build meaningful relationships through transparency, accountability, respect, and open communication. I will establish a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to ensure residents have a voice in shaping public safety priorities. My administration will host regular town halls, strengthen partnerships with schools, faith leaders, nonprofits, and local businesses, and maintain a visible presence throughout the community. We will provide timely communication on public safety issues, department initiatives, and agency performance. Trust is earned through consistent actions, as we are stronger together my commitment is to keep our community informed, engaged, and involved.

What will you do to improve the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

We will be dedicated to investing in our personnel and deepening our community engagement. My administration will enhance professional training, prioritize employee wellness, and ensure every team member has the resources and support required to succeed. By fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we will ensure the Sheriff's Office remains responsive to the evolving needs of our community. Which in turn should improve our criminal justice system.

What will you do to improve the efficiency of the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

Build Community Trust & Engagement: By conducting town halls and listening sessions, Active partnerships with schools, faith leaders, and nonprofits. Ensuring that we are visible and engaged, not only during emergencies.

Strengthen Professional Standards, Pay, & Training: We will ensure competitive pay alignment conducive to a new rank structure that ensures clear rank progression and career growth. Comprehensive training in crisis response and tactical readiness. Implementation of alternative response model that may best handle our homeless and mental health crisis population. In addition to strong leadership accountability, we will establish a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to ensure we are always keeping our lines of communication open.

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Mike Oliver (Rep)

Biographical Information

Campaign Phone 9313203720
Candidate- Why After 32 years in law enforcement, Mike has seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. He knows our county is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes new challenges. The community deserves a Sheriff who is present, accessible, and committed to doing what is right, not what is politically convenient. This campaign is about restoring trust, supporting deputies, and ensuring every citizen feels safe and heard.
Candidate- What Mike Oliver is running for Sheriff of Montgomery County to deliver strong, accountable leadership that prioritizes public safety, transparency, and professional law enforcement.
Candidate- How Mike will lead by focusing on people, partnerships, and performance. He will remain accessible, approachable, and accountable.

What will you do to improve the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

Improving our criminal justice system starts with leadership, accountability, and strong partnerships. I will focus on retaining and recruiting quality deputies, strengthening collaboration with our courts, District Attorney, and local agencies, and ensuring cases are handled efficiently and professionally from arrest to prosecution.

I also believe in transparency and communication with the public, while continuing to support proactive policing and targeted enforcement to reduce repeat offenders. At the end of the day, it is about building a system that is fair, effective, and focused on keeping Montgomery County safe.

What will you do to improve the efficiency of the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

Efficiency starts with leadership, coordination, and clear processes. I will strengthen communication between the Sheriff’s Office, courts, and District Attorney to reduce delays and keep cases moving. We will streamline reporting and evidence handling through better use of technology and ensure deputies are properly trained to build strong, complete cases from the start.

I will also focus on staffing, making sure we retain experienced personnel and recruit high quality candidates to prevent bottlenecks. At the end of the day, an efficient system is one that is organized, accountable, and works together to deliver timely justice while keeping our community safe.

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Johnny R. Ransdell (Ind)

Biographical Information

Campaign Phone 9318024070
Candidate- Why I am running for Sheriff because Montgomery County is my home and deserves a Sheriff's Office built on integrity, accountability, and public trust. After more than 31 years in law enforcement, I want to use my experience to serve our community and help ensure every family feels safe.
Candidate- What My priorities are strengthening school safety, supporting deputies with the training and resources they need, improving transparency, being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, and building strong partnerships with our community.
Candidate- How I will lead by example, be visible and accessible to the public, make decisions based on professionalism and facts, invest in training and technology, work collaboratively with our community partners, and ensure the Sheriff's Office is accountable to the citizens it deserves.

What will you do to improve the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

I will focus on restoring trust through transparency, accountability, and strong leadership. My priorities are improving deputy recruitment and retention, investing in training and technology, strengthening school and community partnerships and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. I also believe in supporting the men and women of the Sheriff's Office with the resources, equipment, and leadership they need to serve our community safely and professionally.

What will you do to improve the efficiency of the Montgomery County criminal justice system?

I will work closely with the DA, judges, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and community partners to improve communication, streamline processes, and reduce unnecessary delays. I will ensure investigations are thorough and completed promptly. Efficiency isn't about cutting corners, it's about working smarter together, so victim's receive timely justice, defendants receive due process, and taxpayers know their Sheriff's Office is using resources wisely.