{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTanya Frey is the Democratic nominee for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education, District 8, on the August 6, 2026 county general-election ballot [1][2]. She won the District 8 Democratic primary in May 2026 with more than 60% of the vote and faces independent candidate Leigh Ann Scarbrough in the general election [2]. Frey names board governance as her most important issue, arguing, \"We have strong educators and real progress, but not enough clarity or consistency across the system\" [1].\n\n## Career\nFrey has worked as a Memphis-based lawyer for 21 years, including positions at AutoZone and at ALSAC, the fundraising organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital [1]. She currently runs Terra Firma Consulting, advising nonprofits on leadership and board governance [1]. She frames her platform around clear academic goal-setting and directing resources to classrooms, stating, \"Every decision should come back to one question: Does this lead to better outcomes for students?\" [1]\n\n## Family\nFrey has three sons who have attended a range of area schools, including Richland Elementary, East High School, Middle College High School, and Houston High School in Germantown [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Memphis school board election 2026: Who are the Democratic candidates in District 8? - Chalkbeat Tennessee](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-8/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Memphis 2026 school board primary election: live updates - Chalkbeat Tennessee](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/05/05/memphis-school-board-primary-election-results-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County School Board District 8"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Tanya","fullname":"Tanya Frey","lastname":"Frey","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_8","contest_title":"County School Board District 8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_school_board_division_8","office_title":"County School Board Division 8","party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_8","contest_title":"County School Board District 8","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_school_board_division_8","office_title":"County School Board Division 8","party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_division_8","office_title":"County School Board Division 8","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic nominee for MSCS School Board District 8 in 2026; a Memphis lawyer of 21 years who now advises nonprofits on board governance.","terms":[],"token":"Qr9yAKNnam"}