{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBrad VanKirk is the Republican candidate for Montgomery County Commission District 21 in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against independent incumbent David Shelton after winning the Republican primary [1][2]. He says he wants to use his experience in zoning and property taxation to guide responsible growth and planning [1].\n\n## Background and education\nVanKirk was born in Warsaw, Indiana, and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Austin Peay State University on a golf scholarship [1].\n\n## Career\nVanKirk's career spans more than 40 years, beginning with about a decade in health-care sales, then work as a mortgage broker, and for the past 16 years as a real estate professional [1].\n\n## Family\nVanKirk is the father of three grown daughters who attended CMCSS and the grandfather of children currently enrolled [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Brad VanKirk announces candidacy for Montgomery County Commission, District 21](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/brad-vankirk-announces-candidacy-for-montgomery-county-commission-district-21/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 21"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"BRAD","fullname":"BRAD VANKIRK","lastname":"VANKIRK","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":"County Commission District 21","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican candidate for Montgomery County Commission District 21 in 2026; longtime real estate professional running on zoning and managed growth.","terms":[],"token":"5nPundmYyw"}