Benton County, TN elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Benton County: 25 seats on 8 elected bodies.

County Commission

Benton County Commission

OfficeWho holds it now
County CommissionerKeith Arnold source
County CommissionerBret Burke source
County CommissionerPhil Davis source
County CommissionerWilliam Furr source
County CommissionerDakota Green source
County CommissionerBarry Holland source
County CommissionerNicholas Horton source
County CommissionerTerry Kiehn source
County CommissionerLarry Kirk source
County CommissionerPhillip Melton source
County CommissionerJeff Murphy source
County CommissionerMike Nunnery source
County CommissionerRocky Presson source
County CommissionerJerry Price source
County CommissionerRandy Shannon source
County CommissionerSamuel Shaw source
County CommissionerTim Vick source
County CommissionerRosanne Ward source

County officers

OfficeWho holds it now
Assessor of PropertyRyan Hall source
Circuit Court ClerkSam Rainwaters source
County ClerkWanda Malin source
County MayorMark Ward source
Register of DeedsSonya Volz source
SheriffKenneth Christopher source
TrusteeBeverly Beal source

How many local governments Benton County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 6 local governments in Benton County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships20
School districts (school boards)00
Special districts (elected boards)30

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (1 in Benton County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Benton County

16,006people
47.8median ageU.S.: 38.9
$51,746 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
17.8%below the U.S.: 12.5%
12.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$153,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
5.3%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
2.5%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
10.1%U.S.: 8.4%
39.1%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
31.2%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.8% · White 89.7% · Black 1.5% · Asian 1% · Other or more than one race 5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Benton County

4.2%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.4%. Tennessee: 3.3%.
259people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
5,841people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
6,100in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Benton County 0.0%2.4%4.8%7.2%9.6% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.2%2595,8416,100
August 20264.7%2815,7456,026
July 20264.7%2815,6735,954
June 20265.1%3065,7486,054
May 20264.1%2515,8416,092
April 20264.3%2625,8156,077
March 20264.4%2695,7776,046
February 20265.3%3215,7576,078
January 20264.9%2995,7986,097
December 20254.3%2625,8256,087
November 20254.7%2835,7986,081
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.4%2725,8496,121
August 20254.6%2775,8006,077
July 20255.4%3215,6765,997
June 20255.2%3185,7716,089
May 20254.2%2585,8296,087
April 20254.0%2425,8326,074
March 20254.3%2595,7796,038
February 20254.5%2715,7275,998
January 20254.9%2975,7576,054
December 20244.7%2765,6435,919
November 20245.0%2905,5475,837
October 20244.9%2925,6255,917
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.6%2785,7866,064
20244.6%2715,5885,859
20234.7%2735,5485,821
20224.7%2755,6035,878
20215.8%3355,4815,816
20209.1%5335,3195,852
20195.0%2995,6335,932
20185.6%3325,5795,911
20176.3%3615,4135,774
20168.2%4775,3435,820

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Tennessee's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.4% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Benton County

172.1 per 100,0002025. Tennessee: 492.3.
626.8 per 100,0002025. Tennessee: 1,636.6.
0murders2025, 28 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202528172.1102626.8
202438233.7119731.9
202345279.5123763.9
202251319.22041,276.9
202138235.11741,076.5
202032198.5155961.4
201921130.01741,077.3
201837232.63502,200.0
201740250.53222,016.8
201618112.13191,986.8
By police agency (3)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Benton County Sheriff's Office2025256612,077
Camden Police Department20253333,696
Big Sandy Police Department202401494

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Tennessee · the U.S.

Police staffing

2.27 per 1,000 residents2025, 3 agencies serving 16,273 people.
37sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
51civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (3), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Benton County Sheriff's Office174112,077
Camden Police Department18103,696
Big Sandy Police Department20500
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2025372.27513
2024332.03503
2023332.05163
2022342.13393
2021321.98413
2020352.17433
2019342.11473
2018352.20443
2017301.88503
2016342.12443

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Benton County Assessor of Property?
Ryan Hall is the Assessor of Property of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County Circuit Court Clerk?
Sam Rainwaters is the Circuit Court Clerk of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County County Clerk?
Wanda Malin is the County Clerk of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County County Mayor?
Mark Ward is the County Mayor of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County Register of Deeds?
Sonya Volz is the Register of Deeds of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County Sheriff?
Kenneth Christopher is the Sheriff of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who is the Benton County Trustee?
Beverly Beal is the Trustee of Benton County, Tennessee.
Who are the Benton County commissioners?
Keith Arnold (County Commissioner); Bret Burke (County Commissioner); Phil Davis (County Commissioner); William Furr (County Commissioner); Dakota Green (County Commissioner); Barry Holland (County Commissioner); Nicholas Horton (County Commissioner); Terry Kiehn (County Commissioner); Larry Kirk (County Commissioner); Phillip Melton (County Commissioner); Jeff Murphy (County Commissioner); Mike Nunnery (County Commissioner); Rocky Presson (County Commissioner); Jerry Price (County Commissioner); Randy Shannon (County Commissioner); Samuel Shaw (County Commissioner); Tim Vick (County Commissioner); Rosanne Ward (County Commissioner).
What is the population of Benton County?
About 16,006 people, with a median age of 47.8; the median household income is $51,746 and 17.8% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Benton County?
4.2% in September 2026 (preliminary): 259 people unemployed in a labor force of 6,100, against 4.4% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Benton County?
6 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 2 municipal and 3 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the county directory of the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS); each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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