{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPatricia N. Smith is the Democratic Party nominee for Sumner County Commission District 11, facing Republican Nick Ivey on the August 6, 2026 ballot [1]. Her stated priorities are school-library access, civic engagement, fair elections, and community service \"with integrity, compassion, and common sense\"; she has been active in local government advocacy on \"intellectual freedom\" and in opposing efforts to remove books from libraries [2].\n\n## Background and education\nSmith was born and raised in St. Louis County, Missouri, later moving to West Virginia with her husband to raise two children, and relocated to Tennessee about 13 years ago; she lives in the Sandersville Station area [2]. She holds two master's degrees in education [2].\n\n## Career\nSmith spent her career in public education as a special-education teacher, elementary educator, reading teacher, and curriculum specialist, retiring as an elementary school principal [2]. She has also served as an election worker [2].\n\n## Family\nShe is married with two children and has grandchildren in the area [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Patricia Smith for District 11 \u2014 campaign site](https://pat4sumnercc11.com) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 11"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"PATRICIA","fullname":"PATRICIA SMITH","lastname":"SMITH","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","contest_title":"County Commission District 11","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_11","contest_title":"County Commission District 11","county":"Sumner","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_11","office_title":"County Commission District 11","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic nominee for County Commission District 11; retired school principal focused on school-library access, civic engagement, and fair elections.","terms":[],"token":"LqYF3xr4oM"}