{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Candidate in the Democratic primary for Shelby County Mayor on May 5, 2026 \u2014 one of seven Democrats running. ([Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/61877))\n\n- Candidate in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([Fox 13 Memphis](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/7-democrats-face-off-to-win-nomination-in-shelby-county-mayoral-race/article_6be2d526-e0df-4cb1-ad47-2bdf478e8f25.html))\n- Campaign site: [rustyquallsforshelbycountymayor.org](https://www.rustyquallsforshelbycountymayor.org/)\n- Does not accept donations from PACs. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/meet-the-candidates-rusty-qualls/522-72196486-0822-4509-8ed0-c4d142151493))\n\n## Background and education\n- Information not provided in sources.\n\n- Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and raised in Greenville. ([Rusty Qualls Campaign Site](https://www.rustyquallsforshelbycountymayor.org/))\n- Was \"building boats and barges\" before moving to Memphis. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/meet-the-candidates-rusty-qualls/522-72196486-0822-4509-8ed0-c4d142151493))\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n\n## Office history\n- No prior elected office; describes himself as a \"small business owner\" and \"not a career politician.\" ([Rusty Qualls Campaign Site](https://www.rustyquallsforshelbycountymayor.org/))\n- Owns several businesses in Shelby County, including tax services. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/meet-the-candidates-rusty-qualls/522-72196486-0822-4509-8ed0-c4d142151493))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Mayor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=QUALLS&id=103903&f=198878&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n\n## Family\n- Wife; moved to Memphis 25 years ago with his wife to ensure their children had a better education. ([Local Memphis](https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/meet-the-candidates-rusty-qualls/522-72196486-0822-4509-8ed0-c4d142151493))\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"shelby","displayname":"Qualls, Rusty","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"08/02/25","documentid":"9A8C5791-CA8B-47CC-BD3D-11AE0F992D65","documentname":"Qualls, Rusty S., - CFD Mid-Year 2025","documentnameid":["9A8C5791-CA8B-47CC-BD3D-11AE0F992D65","Qualls, Rusty S., - CFD Mid-Year 2025"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"05/12/25","documentid":"35816DCD-6F94-4541-B8DF-A873849445F5","documentname":"Qualls, Rusty - Appointment of Treasurer 2026.pdf","documentnameid":["35816DCD-6F94-4541-B8DF-A873849445F5","Qualls, Rusty - Appointment of Treasurer 2026.pdf"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"Shelby County Mayor","source_customer_id":"EE6EBC62-7B7C-432F-869E-4DE111271E07","source_filer_id":"AC68EBBE-0686-4178-9BFA-E1FD4F88F12B","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Rusty","fullname":"Rusty Qualls","lastname":"Qualls","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"Shelby","office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"terms":[],"token":"IpaQlO7CXU"}