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Roy L. "Hoot" Shields
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Roy "Hoot" Shields won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary for Blount County Commission District 8, Seat A, an open seat being vacated by incumbent Brad Bowers, who ran for county mayor instead of re-election 1. Shields faces Democrat Patti Young in the August 6, 2026 general election 1.
Background and education
Shields describes himself as a lifelong Blount County resident and direct descendant of a Cades Cove family, citing "over 250 years of Appalachian heritage" 1. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and former federal officer whose work included presidential and dignitary protection details, and says he held Top Secret and Q-level clearances; he describes himself as a 1976 Congressionally-awarded Eagle Scout 1.
Career
Per his candidate profile, Shields has spent decades training and teaching "kids, teens, and adults" and says he attended every county commissioner workshop and meeting for the 22 months preceding his campaign 1. He says his current income is VA disability benefits and Social Security 1.
Documented disputes and controversies
At the Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals' June 4, 2026 meeting on special exceptions for two apartment developments totaling 824 units, Shields — identified by The Daily Times as "the GOP candidate for Seat 8-A on county commission" — stood and said, "I stand in protest of the decisions made tonight and will remove myself from this meeting," then led roughly half the attendees out of the room after the board approved the developments 3-1 2.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “Shields”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“Shields”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Shields”and, if needed, select the applicable position.