{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGabe Howard is a Maury County commissioner representing District 8 and is running for Maury County mayor in 2026 as an independent [2][3]. He has said he is running as an independent \"because he believes the people should have a vote,\" arguing that a county mayor \"serves the entire county\" and that voters should choose in \"a broader, more open election\" [2]. He describes himself as \"not a career politician\" but \"a local businessman,\" and says his leadership would be \"Republican and conservative in principle\" and \"people-first in decision making\" [1]. His stated priorities include smart growth, infrastructure and water planning, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and farmland preservation [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nHoward is a United States Marine Corps veteran who credits the military with teaching him \"discipline, leadership, and the importance of mission-first thinking\" [1]. He says \"faith and family are the foundation of my life\" [1].\n\n## Career\nHoward says he currently operates several small businesses in Maury County and believes this gives him practical understanding of how county government decisions affect \"job creators and families\" [1]. As a county commissioner he says he has served on key committees and been involved \"in the work that happens behind the scenes long before final votes are taken\" [1].\n\n## Family\nHoward says he has been married to his wife, Rachael, for 22 years and is raising four boys [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [About \u2014 Gabe Howard TN](https://www.gabehowardtn.com/about) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Gabe Howard to run for Maury County Mayor](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/mainstreetmaury/gabe-howard-to-run-for-maury-county-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Gabe Howard | Maury County, TN (county commissioner page)](https://www.maurycounty-tn.gov/185/Gabe-Howard) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Maury","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Gabe","fullname":"Gabe Howard","lastname":"Howard","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Maury","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Maury","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Gabe Howard is a Maury County commissioner and Marine veteran running as an independent for county mayor in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"CO8JVuiFjz"}