{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPatti Young is the Democratic nominee for Blount County Commission District 8, Seat A, facing Republican Roy L. \"Hoot\" Shields in the Aug. 6, 2026 general election [1][2]. She filed in February 2026 as the only Democratic candidate after Republican incumbent Brad Bowers left the seat open to run for county mayor [3].\n\n## Background and education\nPer her Ballotpedia candidate profile, Young holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Tennessee [4].\n\n## Career\nPer her Ballotpedia profile, Young taught art, videography, filmmaking, and theater in Maryville City Schools for 34 years before retiring, including writing and directing original student plays, many centered on themes of equal rights and government [4]. She and her husband, Phil Young, own and operate Young Mountain Farm, an equestrian facility in Maryville [4][5]. She previously ran as the Democratic nominee for TN State Senate District 2 (which includes all of Blount County) in 2024, losing the general [4].\n\n## Family\nHer husband, Phil Young, is also on the Aug. 6, 2026 ballot, as the Democratic nominee for Blount County School Board, District 1 [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County Election Commission, \"May 5, 2026 Petitions\"](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29506/May-5-2026-Petitions-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Blount County Election Commission, \"August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot\"](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [The Daily Times, \"County mayor, clerk primary filings pick up as deadline nears\"](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/county-mayor-clerk-primary-filings-pick-up-as-deadline-nears/article_b6bdaf25-5202-4778-bf2a-033c130cc248.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [Patti Young, Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Patti_Young) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[5] [Young Mountain Farm, staff page](https://youngmountainfarm.weebly.com/staff.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","county":"Blount","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 8, Seat A"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Patti","fullname":"Patti Young","lastname":"Young","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","contest_title":"County Commission District 8, Seat A","county":"Blount","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_8","contest_title":"County Commission District 8, Seat A","county":"Blount","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_8","office_title":"County Commission District 8, Seat A","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democrat Patti Young, a retired 34-year Maryville City Schools teacher and equestrian-farm co-owner, is the sole Democratic nominee for Blount County Commission District 8, Seat A, facing Republican Roy 'Hoot' Shields.","terms":[],"token":"Tav4pI9ADR"}