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Paul Miranda for DeKalb County 4th District Commissioner., Smithville, TN (2026)

08/07/2026

Not the results we wanted, but life shows us all the time, you don't always get what you want.
I want to thank everyone and am grateful for all the support through this journey of the 4th District Commissioner seat run. I had the opportunity meet and talk with so many DeKalb residents in the 4th District as well as those from many others. It truly showed that we have much more in common than not. DeKalb County voters have made their choices up and down the ballot. I see plenty of opportunity to do right and make things and better for DeKalb County. The people are giving their trust and voices to several new representatives and back to some already occupying those positions.
My intentions and goals for running were to always represent the citizens based on what they tell us they want. To use fact based information and a rational thinking approach to do the job right. Which is what every elected official should be doing.

This is not the end to my involvement in our local government. I'll still be at meetings. Our life is cemented in DeKalb County. Nope, I'm not from here, but we are living the rest of our lives here. I'm not going anywhere.
I will continue to ask hard questions when needed and demand accountability from our elected officials.
Going forward we all want to see our new DeKalb County government officials and representatives (city and county) make the right decisions and choices for the people that just elected them based on what those same people tell them. It's really that simple.

Now I'll try to save the Social Media trolls some time (and you know who you are because it's already started). I won't address your middle school mean girl posts. They won't hurt or affect me. It will just burn time you will never back.

I tell the boys that I coach at the Middle School, that unless you can learn to handle defeat, you never truly appreciate winning. You don't have to like it, but you have to move forward from it. This is me moving forward. I see more winning with a lot of the results from this election with good people I supported and trust. The opportunity for a better path forward for DeKalb County is wide open.

Good night and thank you.

08/06/2026

Today, DeKalb County has a choice. We can continue with the same direction you've experienced the last 4 years, or we can choose a different path with a future built on transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and true representation.
Every single vote matters. Don't assume someone else will decide what's best for your future and the future of our county. Take a few minutes, cast your ballot, and make your voice count. This vote can't be ignored or disregarded.
The future of DeKalb County won't be decided by those who stay home, it will be decided by those who show up to cast their votes. Please vote today, for every candidate you believe, and importantly TRUST, will listen and respond to you. Candidates that will lead or cast votes for you, and not in spite of you.
My oath is to be just that if elected. I fully understand how a team effort is a force multiplayer to achieve a successful outcome of a mission. There are many new candidates, and a very select few already in office, with the common objectives that the Residents and Voters of DeKalb have been asking for. Thank you to everyone for the support you've given me during this journey that I look forward to continuing.
Now to use a sports reference...It's Game Day!

08/03/2026

As we head down the final stretch and to the finish line of this year's election I wanted to offer some final thoughts, information, and reasons why I am running for the DeKalb County 4th District Commission seat, and show the road map of how I will serve in that office.

"County government is the level of government closest to the people. It should be the most transparent, responsive, and accountable."

In 2024, approximately 85% of DeKalb County voters spoke loud and clear. They rejected the proposed $65 million jail and justice-center project. That should have sent a clear message: listen to the people, provide the facts, and let voters have a meaningful voice before committing our county to massive debt.

Instead, the current majority of our current Commissioners moved forward with a new jail plan and took away the same DeKalb voters’ opportunity to vote on the 2025–2026 project and tax dollar price tag. The Commission deliberately blocked and bypassed the democratic process because they didn't like or trust the voters decisions. That is unforgivable.

For the past year and a half, I have consistently asked questions and raised documented concerns about the current jail plan, especially the proposed Smith Road location (which I and the vast majority of rationally thinking and common sense people see as the absolute worst location presented). Those questions and concerns should have been fully answered before millions of taxpayer dollars were committed... Can the existing roads safely handle the increased traffic? Is the water and sewer infrastructure adequate? What will the long-term jail operational costs be? What is the true cost of housing inmates locally compared with housing them elsewhere? What will this project mean for the safety of school staff and students and surrounding property owners? What will the future financial burden be for the taxpayers?

When transparency was missing, I did the work to find the answers. I have submitted more than six public information and public records requests to obtain documents, financial information, project details, show who was involved, and gain factual answers to questions citizens were asking but were not receiving. I did not do that for political advantage. I did it before becoming a candidate, and because the public has a right to know how its taxpayer money is being spent and how decisions affecting our county are being made or not made.

Just last Monday, the Commission voted 9–3 against simply pausing the jail project and stopping additional spending until after this election. They refused to allow newly elected officials, and the voters who choose them, to determine whether the project should continue or change course.

Now, the decision is yours. Your vote is your voice. This election is your opportunity to choose new leadership and true representatives—leaders who listen, ask questions, provide transparency, protect taxpayers, and who remember that elected officials are here to represent the people, not rule over them.

If you trust me with your vote, I will honor my oath to serve and represent you. I will continue demanding accountability, transparency, responsible spending, and respect for the public. If you are ready for a positive change, I offer an alternative and an opportunity to put DeKalb County back on a better path towards common sense representation, responsible government, a trusted government, and a responsive government with stronger open and transparent two way communication in order to achieve lasting success.

Thank you to the many 4th District residents that opened their doors to speak with me these past months. The people I've met and talked with ranged from lifelong DeKalb County residents to the those who have just recently arrived. It has been first time voters, to those who have voted for decades. Senior citizens to teenagers. It included current first responders and some who have retired from that service. It has been veterans, farmers, businessmen, teachers, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles. It has been quite a ride so far, but one I am fully committed to continuing.

I respectfully ask for your vote and to be your voice as the DeKalb County 4th District Commissioner.

07/27/2026

Another weekend of getting out to meet people and hear exactly how they truly feel about the last 4 years of the current Dekalb County Government. The hot topics, as always, were the over reach for a new jail project, after the 85% spoke in 2024, and it's current proposed location, the property taxes increases to pay for it, the massive spending and how those running for election or re election play a role in it all.
Talking with people face to face gives you a true sense of their feelings. And the facts are the facts. People are angry for getting ignored after the 2024 Referendum 85%-15%. They certainly don't like having their ability to vote on a multi million dollar project stolen from them. They have the same view, that probably 90+% of us see regarding a jail being built inside a residential neighborhood, on a residential street with one of two ways in or out going to an elementary school (and soon to be a second school). The most used descriptions and words are "it doesn't make any sense", "it's ridiculous", or "it's stupid".

People are sick and tired of being ignored, uninformed, and then hammered with taxes to pay for things they don't want or have little to no transparent information about. Those on fixed incomes are struggling and you hear it straight from them.
What also didn't matter to them were any National Political affiliation. Their problems and concerns were Non-Parrisan.

Thank you to everyone who opened their doors and took the time to talk to a stranger at first. But after an open and honest conversation with me, to see me as more than just a candidate and retired cop. Instead seeing me as an involved neighbor willing to talk to them, hearing them, and answering any questions they had for me, who just also happens to be running for an elected representative position. I offer myself as an alternative for everyone not satisfied and angry with the last 4 years. Someone with common sense, rational critical thinking, and not afraid to face or answer hard questions. Most importantly, that I am someone to choose as their future Commisioner/Representation in the 4th District who understands that representation means to actually represent and not rule.

Your Vote is your Voice that cannot be ignored or dismissed this time.

07/20/2026

Monday idea for DeKalb County Commissioners going forward. Currently we schedule Full Commission meetings on the 4th Monday of the Month and the workshop for the that meeting the Thursday before that. This may seem like a small gesture, but to me this suggestion creates more effectiveness. Consider moving full Commission meetings to the 4th Tuesday of each month. Many Holidays fall on Mondays, and many on Fridays. If the holiday falls on a weekend day it gets recognized on Mondays or Fridays. When this happens on a Commission meeting Monday they often get postponed and rescheduled anyway. Why not have our full Commission meetings on the 4th Tuesdays of each month. One I don't see many holidays recognized on Tuesdays and it would add an extra day for Commissioners to look into agenda items brought up and discussed at the Thursday Workshops. I know Mondays are usually pretty busy for many people after a weekend, so an extra day to get caught up and attend on a Tuesday might help scheduling and attendance. A small Common Sense idea that is easily implemented. As I always I encourage feedback on these suggestions and ideas.

Get out to vote! Your vote is your voice and your power to impact how you want DeKalb County to move forward after the last four years. I appreciate all support to help me represent you in the 4th District and all of DeKalb County.

07/12/2026

Yesterday I got the opportunity to meet and speak with numerous 4th District residents who I no longer consider strangers. I was even offered to join a senior couple for lunch in their home.
Everyone was kind enough to share part of their day talking with me about the current direction DeKalb County has been taken and their representation...or lack of. These were young families, senior citizens, people who have moved here as recently as last August, to some moving here 20 years, 10 years, 6 years or a couple years ago. And of course many who have lived in DeKalb County their entire lives and seen how it's changed. They were retirees on fixed incomes, private business owners, former law enforcement, educators, Church Pastors, and a Vietnam veteran who had received not 1, not 2, but 3 purple heart medals during his service in the Army. What a special privilege to talk with him.
I can tell you none of them said everything is great, or that they have no worries about how DeKalb County Government has run things the last 4 years, by the Mayor and the majority of the Commissioners.
I can also report that 100% of every single person I spoke with recognized that building a jail inside a residential neighborhood, accessible only via a residential street with one of the ways in or out going directly to Northside Elementary School and eventually another elementary school is absolutely stupid. Yep, the word stupid was a very common description along with it makes no sense. And all of them have felt the squeeze of the increased property taxes to pay for that project.
But I tell you what, it was when I described how the opportunity to vote on this jail project and the costs to tax payers was intentionally and strategically taken away from him and every other Dekalb voter by the current Mayor and majority of the current Commissioners, the man who has 3 purple hearts serving this country used some very colorful language. He said that kind behavior and actions by elected officials is not what he fought and bled for. It was exactly the kind of government dictatorship he fought against and to protect this country from.
After speaking with so many people it was easy to see that we have much more in common than not. And that a different path is needed for DeKalb County and a local government that serves its residents and doesn't rule over us.
I encourage every to use your vote and make informed decisions on choosing who you recognize as the best choices to achieve our common goal. To get DeKalb County Government back to the voters and residents. Thank you again to everyone who took time to speak with me and I truly appreciate and value all your support.

07/02/2026

Here's another idea for voters to consider. First ask why DeKalb County has no full time maintenance employees on the payroll? The city does. The schools do. Yet the County not. That means every repair and maintenance project big or small, i.e. plumbing , electric, painting, window repairs, doors and door locks, etc, all has to be sent out to private plumbers, electricians, or painting contractors at their labor cost rates plus marked up supply costs. Common sense would say it would be much more cost effective to have at least one and possibly 2 full time maintenance employees to handle that work? Or one full-time and one part-time. Yes, there is initial up front costs for necessary tools and a vehicle. But in the long run it becomes far more cost effective and cost saving. No more private labor costs. Just supplies at government rate costs for repairs and maintenance vs marked up private costs. Plus every day, and much more quickly, work could be done on overdue needed repairs and then keeping up routine maintenance vs being reactive when something breaks down and having to wait for the repair to be scheduled. Look what recently happened when maintenance is non existent and so bad you fall through flooring at a Community center. DeKalb County has spent over $550,000 since 2022 for repairs and maintenance. And that doesn't include the final numbers this fiscal year. I think we can do better.

06/16/2026

Data/Crypto currency Centers are hot topics DeKalb County is facing. Here is my thought process and what I see as a road map to a plan.

Temporary Moratoriums to Buy Time
One of the strongest examples is from the town of Cedar Hill in Robertson County, Tennessee, which recently adopted a two-year moratorium on new data centers and cryptocurrency facilities. Local officials stated they wanted time to study impacts on infrastructure, utilities, and community character before allowing projects to proceed.

Likewise, McMinnville in Warren County is considering a moratorium while officials evaluate a proposed AI-focused data center campus. Community concerns included changes to the town's character, utility demands, and long-term impacts.

For DeKalb County, a temporary moratorium could provide time to:
Create special zoning regulations.
Conduct utility-capacity studies.
Evaluate water and sewer impacts.
Develop local noise and setback standards.
Create public-hearing requirements.

If I were looking at what has worked elsewhere and what would likely withstand scrutiny, I would focus on a multi layered approach.
Adopt 12+ month moratorium.

Create a specific "Data Center" zoning classification.

Restrict data centers to industrially zoned land.

Require independent studies for traffic, water, sewer, electrical capacity, noise, and emergency services.

Require developers to pay for infrastructure upgrades and impact costs caused by the project.

As of July 1, 2026 Tennessee legislation passed requiring Data Center builders do the following:
Developers fund utility extensions.
Developers fund substation upgrades,
to handle what they use and don't pass that burden onto local residents and tax payers. Locally you could add paying for road improvements as well. So what that means is A developer can no longer expect local governments, electric utilities, or existing ratepayers to absorb costs that are solely attributable to the data center. The developer must pay for infrastructure upgrades needed specifically because of the project.

Potential costs include:
New electrical substations
Transmission line upgrades
Distribution system improvements
Additional electric infrastructure
In some cases, supporting infrastructure associated with serving the facility

These approaches don't prohibit data centers outright. Instead, it ensures they are built only where the infrastructure and surrounding land uses make sense. For a small rural county like DeKalb County, that seems like a more sound, defensible and balanced strategy than either unrestricted approval or a permanent ban.

(Side Note: Weird how some of this should be applied to a jail project getting forced through and into a residential neighborhood.

06/13/2026

Friendly reminder that I will be at the DeKalb County Complex Cafe sitting area next to the main auditorium this morning, from 9am-12pm-ish, to answer any questions people have about my 4th District candidacy. All are welcome to ask about whatever they feel is important to them regarding their local government representatives and how the decisions that have been made over the last 4 years by current officials have affected them. A few candidates for the upcoming election might stop by as well. Thanks in advance for any time you share with me.

06/11/2026

So I've been asked whether the only reason I'm running for County Commissioner is because I'm opposed to the proposed jail location in the Smith Road Neighborhood.
The answer is No. I'm not even anti jail. Just anti the worst decision for a location that some still try to defend.
The jail issue may have been the catalyst that caused me to become more vocal, but my concerns about transparency, accountability, taxpayer stewardship, and public representation go much deeper than a single project. In fact, I was questioning decisions, pointing out problems, and asking for answers long before Smith Road was ever selected as the proposed location.
What finally pushed me to run was watching elected officials repeatedly ignore or undervalue the concerns of the very people they were elected to represent. Whether it's spending decisions, development projects, public transparency, or long-term planning, I believe too many citizens feel like they're being talked at instead of listened to.
As for the jail itself, let's be honest about it. Most people don't need to be experts in corrections, engineering, or planning to immediately recognize that placing a 182-bed jail in the middle of a residential neighborhood creates legitimate problems. When one of the two primary routes in and out passes directly by Northside Elementary School, those problems and liabilities become even more obvious. That's not a radical position. That's common sense.
What's particularly strange is the attempt to portray opposition to that location as somehow "California-ing Tennessee." I left California because I experienced firsthand what happens when government becomes disconnected from the people it serves, spends excessively, and dismisses citizen concerns. If anything, that experience taught me exactly what our local government should not become.
And here's the irony: for all of California's problems, they still haven't reached the point where they're building large county jails in the middle of established residential neighborhoods. Yet that's exactly what a majority of the current DeKalb County Commission is willing to do.
The jail isn't the only issue that deserves scrutiny. Residents have raised concerns and identified significant issues about the SRM quarry situation and its impact on nearby property owners. The new Jones Bros quarry just piled on to those same problems. Taxpayers are watching the ongoing Silver Point litigation. Citizens in the River Watch community had to publicly challenge information surrounding that project before it was stopped. Then there's the Austin Bottom property situation, where land reportedly available for approximately $60,000 was not acquired, leaving a fire hall sitting on property now owned by someone else. When that lease expires, taxpayers could be facing a much larger bill—or worse, residents could lose critical fire protection coverage in that area.
Those are not one-issue concerns. Those are examples of a pattern of poor decisions that deserve scrutiny, public input discussion and accountability.
The reality is that I have spent more time discussing the jail because that's where I happen to have the most experience, have done the most research, and have invested the most effort bringing the facts to light. But anyone who knows me or has followed my campaign knows my platform is about much more than one property or one project. It's about restoring trust, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and making sure the people of DeKalb County have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.
If the strongest criticism someone can offer is that I escaped California and don't think a jail belongs in a residential neighborhood next to a school, I'll let the voters decide whether that's a weakness or a strength.

Paul Miranda for DeKalb County 4th District Commissioner.

08/07/2026

08/06/2026

08/03/2026

07/27/2026

07/20/2026

07/12/2026

07/02/2026

06/16/2026

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06/11/2026

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