Once called the County Court, the modern County Commission actually functions as the legislative body of county government, working primarily through the committee system. There are five standing committees and numerous other committees boards and commissions whose vote functions as a recommendation to the full County Commission.
Whether it is payment of bills, approval of expenditures, approval of the budget, zoning changes or new legislation, committee actions do not take on the color of law until approved by a vote of the full commission.
There are 25 commissioners in Washington County, serving in nine commission districts. Each commission district comprises several of the 40 Civil Districts, each of which is a voting precinct.
To see the Commission's adopted rules of procedure, click on the file attachment at the bottom of this page or click here. 
Originally there were 18 Civil Districts, but population growth has caused urban precincts to be subdivided in order to effect proportional distribution. One vestige of the old County Court days is that County Commissioners can still perform marriages.

1st Commission District (Civil Districts 10-T, 11-E, 11-I, 11-L and 11-WI)
Greg Matherly	404 Brookwood Drive Gray, TN 37615	(423) 282-0503
Pete Speropulos III	157 Cedar Point Road Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 914-1962
Doyle Cloyd	286 Highland Church Road Gray, TN 37615	(423) 753-0195
2nd Commission District (Civil Districts 9-3, 9-6, 10-P, and 10-I)
Dr. Sam Humphreys	708 E. Mountain View Road Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 282-5565
Joe Sheffield	150 Degrasse Drive Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 283-4171
George E. "Skip" Oldham III	1604 Par Court Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 928-7477
3rd Commission District (Civil Districts 9-7W, 9-9, 9-10 and 10-S)
Alpha Bridger	2009 Northwood Drive Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 929-1052
Mitch Meredith	2012 Northwood Drive Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 928-7326
Sam Phillips	903 W. Hillcrest Drive Johnson City, TN 37604	(423) 557-5370
4th Commission District (Civil Districts 9-1, 9-5 and 9-8)
Phyllis Corso	1107 Southwest Avenue Johnson City, TN 37604	(423) 833-4110
David Tomita	605 E. Holston Avenue Johnson City, TN 37601	(423) 534-7680
Lee Chase	111 W. 11th Avenue Johnson City, TN 37604	(423) 926-1490
5th Commission District (Civil Districts 4, 8-2, 8-14 and 8-15)
Ethan Flynn	3109 W Walnut St, Apt #3  Johnson City, TN 37604	(423) 767-6000
Ken Lyon	1 Oglewood Circle Johnson City, TN 37604	(423) 928-8877
Richard Matherly	4117 Cherokee Road Jonesborough, TN 37659	(423) 753-0769
6th Commission District (Civil Districts 8-1, 8-16, 9-7A, 11-M, 15-1 and 15-2)
William "Joe" Grandy	620 Old Embreeville Road Jonesborough, TN 37659	(423) 791-1033
Gearld Sparks	824 Shell Road Jonesborough, TN 37659	(423) 753-9500
Mark Ferguson	312 Jim Range Road Jonesborough, TN 37659	(423) 753-2816
7th Commission District (Civil Districts 12-C, 12-E, 12-W, 14 and 16)
Mike Ford	191 John Garst Road Jonesborough, TN 37659	(423) 753-0186
Mark Larkey	114 Elizabeth Avenue Gray, TN 37615	(423) 477-3024
Roger Nave	1206 Gray Station Road Gray, TN 37615	(423) 477-7589
8th Commission District (Civil Districts 3, 7, 13, 17, 18)
Ben Bowman	327 Carson Creek Road Limestone, TN 37681	(423) 257-6631
Steve Light	153 Thornburg Hills Road Limestone, TN 37681	(423) 257-4302
9th Commission District (Civil Districts 1, 2, 5 and 6)
David Shanks	167 Leonard Road Telford, TN 37690	(423) 257-5515
Pat Wolfe	2467 Highway 11-E Telford, TN 37690	(423) 753-9025

County commissioners are elected in the regular August election for a four-year term which begins Sept. 1. County commissioners must reside within and be a qualified voter of the district represented. County employees otherwise qualified to serve may hold office as a legislative body member.
However, no person elected or appointed as county executive, sheriff, trustee, register, county clerk, assessor of property, or any other countywide office filled by popular vote or by the legislative body may be nominated for or elected to the legislative body. If a commission member accepts nomination for any of the above offices, or for the General Assembly when the office is being filled by the legislative body, that member becomes disqualified to continue in office and a vacancy in the commission will automatically exist.
The County commission sets its meeting dates and place, but must meet at least four times a year. Vacancies are filled by the remaining commission members until a successor is elected in the next general election.