{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nAustin Maxwell serves as a Murfreesboro City Councilmember [1]. In May 2026, he announced his candidacy for one of the three Murfreesboro City Council seats in the upcoming August general election [4][5]. The election is scheduled for August 6, 2026, with early voting beginning July 17, 2026 [3].\n\nMaxwell, who identifies as a Republican, previously served as the Rutherford County Republican Party Chairman [4][5]. He initially announced his campaign through WGNS Radio and Main Street Media of Tennessee, stating that he would seek to continue his service on the city council [4][5]. His campaign website highlights issues such as smart growth and traffic management in the rapidly growing city [3].\n\nHowever, Maxwell later withdrew from the race. He announced his withdrawal on a Friday, citing factors including his family, employer, military obligations, and duties as party chairman [6].\n\n## Background and education\n\nAustin Maxwell is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee [1]. He was educated in public schools and graduated from Bearden High School in 1984 [2]. He attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he graduated with a degree in Business Management in 1988 [1]. During his time at the university, Maxwell participated in the Army ROTC program and was commissioned as an officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard [2].\n\n## Career\n\nAustin Maxwell graduated from Bearden High School in 1984 and earned a degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1988 [1]. He was commissioned as an officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard through the university's ROTC program [2]. His professional career includes work in the healthcare industry, with prior stops in Huntsville, Alabama, and Columbia, South Carolina [4].\n\nMaxwell and his wife Claire relocated to Murfreesboro in 1998 to raise their family while he continued his career in healthcare [5]. In addition to his professional work, he has served as the chairman of the Rutherford County Republican Party [5].\n\n## Office history\n\nAustin Maxwell served as Chairman of the Rutherford County Republican Party [4]. During his tenure, he also held leadership roles in community organizations, including leading the Riverdale Football Quarterback Club from 2010 to 2013 and coaching youth football in the Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation League [5].\n\nIn a bid for Murfreesboro City Council, Maxwell announced his candidacy for one of the three available seats during an upcoming August general election [4]. He later withdrew from this race, citing family, employer, military obligations, and other personal factors as reasons for the decision [6].\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\nMaxwell relocated to Murfreesboro in 1998 with his wife Claire to raise their family while pursuing a career in the healthcare industry [4][5]. He holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, which he earned in 1988 [1][2].\n\nMaxwell states that his decision to withdraw from the Murfreesboro City Council election was influenced by factors including his employer and military obligations [6]. Specific details regarding his employment, business ownership stakes, or sources of wealth are not provided in the available records.\n\n## Family\n\nAustin Maxwell married Claire Daniel in 1990 [1]. The couple relocated to Murfreesboro in 1998 to raise their family [4]. They have four sons: Matthew, Mitchell, Manning, and Michael [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Councilmember Austin Maxwell | Murfreesboro, TN - Official Website](https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/1964/Councilmember-Austin-Maxwell)\n[2] [Staff Directory \u2022 Austin Maxwell](https://www.murfreesborotn.gov/directory.aspx?EID=159)\n[3] [Austin Maxwell for Murfreesboro City Council](https://voteaustinmaxwell.com/)\n[4] [Campaign Announcement: Austin Maxwell for Murfreesboro City Council - WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/74849/campaign-announcement-austin-maxwell-for-murfreesboro-city-council)\n[5] [Candidate announcement: Austin Maxwell for Murfreesboro City Council - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/murfreesboropost/candidate-announcement-austin-maxwell-for-murfreesboro-city-council/)\n[6] [GOP chairman withdraws from City Council race | News | murfreesboropost.com](https://www.murfreesboropost.com/news/gop-chairman-withdraws-from-city-council-race/article_e8939c6d-73de-5910-8913-81dc2e90d39a.html)","campaigns":[{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Austin","fullname":"Austin Maxwell","lastname":"Maxwell","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"R","primary":{"contest":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","contest_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","county":"Bedford","county_count":4,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"tn_exec_committeeman_14","office_title":"TN State Executive Committeeman District 14","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Austin Maxwell, Rutherford County GOP Chairman and former Murfreesboro City Council candidate, withdrew from the race citing family and military obligations.","terms":[],"token":"M2vFmXemk3"}