{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJoyce Washington of Martin is a candidate for a District 5 seat on the Weakley County Commission on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot.\n\n## Background\nWashington grew up in neighboring Obion County in the 1950s and 1960s, experiencing segregation firsthand. She spent about 40 years living in northern California before returning to northwest Tennessee, and she now lives in Martin [1].\n\n## Career and community leadership\nWashington is a co-founder, in 2018, of the Weakley County Reconciliation Project, a grassroots group that promotes community dialogue about race and racism and works to memorialize local lynching victims; she facilitates its book discussions and has led participant trips to the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum and memorial in Montgomery, Alabama [1]. She also chairs the Martin Housing Authority [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Reconciliation group heals terror of the past one relationship at a time - Institute for Public Service Reporting, Memphis](https://www.psrmemphis.org/reconciliation-group-heals-terror-of-the-past-one-relationship-at-a-time/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [February 3: Joyce Washington - Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/division-of-health-disparities-elimination-/black-history-month-2022/february-3--joyce-washington-.html) - accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_5","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 5"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Joyce","fullname":"Joyce Washington","lastname":"Washington","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_5","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 5","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_5","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 5","county":"Weakley","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_5","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_5","office_title":"County Commissioner District 5","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Co-founder of the Weakley County Reconciliation Project and Martin Housing Authority chair, Democratic candidate for County Commission District 5.","terms":[],"token":"VUK4EDYkyN"}