{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJoe E. Shults is the Republican nominee for Cocke County Mayor in the August 6, 2026 county general election, where he faces independent candidate Chad Burchette [1][2]. A political newcomer, Shults won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, defeating incumbent Mayor Rob Mathis 3,733 votes to 2,724 [1]. He campaigned on recruiting jobs and industry to the county and raised questions about a recent county zoning vote [3]. His campaign platform is framed as an eight-year strategic plan covering financial stabilization and transparency, industry and job recruitment, infrastructure and broadband, workforce and vocational training, public safety, environmental protection, and youth leadership development [4]. After the primary he said, \"Tonight, the people of Cocke County chose a new direction. I'm humbled by their trust, grateful for every vote and ready to get to work delivering the leadership and results our county deserves\" [1].\n\n## Background and education\nShults describes himself as born and raised in Cocke County [4].\n\n## Career\nShults is a business owner and real estate appraiser who says he has built and operated multiple businesses in Cocke County over 38 years [4]. He has held leadership roles with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), serving nine years as vice president and six years as president of the organization's Tennessee State Chapter [4]. He currently serves on the NWTF National Board of Directors as chair of its Audit Committee and on its Finance, By-Law, and Building committees, and reports 15 years on a Tennessee state committee focused on environmental and habitat funding [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Shults wins Republican Primary while McClure, McCallister and Nease reelected - Newport Plain Talk](https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/article_458ff09b-5268-4c54-944b-ff99b1b4c7ae.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [August 6, 2026 Cocke County General Election Official Sample Ballot](https://cockecountyelections.org/s/2026-AUGUST-COCKE-COUNTY-GENERAL-SAMPLE-BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis loses Republican bid for reelection to Joe Shults; candidates raise questions about zoning - WBIR](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/hamblen-jefferson-cocke-greene/cocke-county-mayor-rob-mathis-loses-republican-bid-for-reelection-to-joe-shults/51-1e199ec2-8b15-4475-9f5c-3563a0f9b5fc) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Joe Shults for Cocke County Mayor - campaign site](https://www.joeshults.com/) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Cocke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"JOE","fullname":"JOE E. SHULTS","lastname":"SHULTS","middlename":"E.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Cocke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Cocke","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican nominee for Cocke County Mayor (Aug. 6, 2026), a first-time candidate, business owner and real estate appraiser who upset the incumbent in the May primary.","terms":[],"token":"FrpSK579cu"}