{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMorganfield\u2019s campaign focuses heavily on school closures and the need for increased family input in district decision-making. He argues that the school district has failed to adequately consult parents regarding changes affecting smaller schools ([Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/04/east-memphis-showdown-five-democrats-battle-for-district-9-school-board-seat/)). His candidacy was influenced by community opposition to recent school closures, which helped propel organizers and candidates like Morganfield into the race ([Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/04/east-memphis-showdown-five-democrats-battle-for-district-9-school-board-seat/)).\n\n## Career\nLouis M. Morganfield III is a building engineer at Ida B. Wells Academy, part of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system ([Chalkbeat Tennessee Voter Guide](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-9/)). He is running for the District 9 seat on the Shelby County School Board in the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary ([Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/61982/meet-the-5-people-running-for-the-memphis-school)).\n\n## Office history\nThe District 9 seat covers approximately 12,000 students and their families in neighborhoods ranging from Cooper Young to Germantown ([Chalkbeat Tennessee Voter Guide](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-9/)). The district includes 24 schools, such as Overton High and Colonial Middle, with a student population that is 65% Black and around one in three Hispanic ([Chalkbeat Tennessee Voter Guide](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-9/)). Morganfield is one of five candidates vying for the position, which is currently held by incumbent Joyce Dorse-Coleman ([Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/article/61982/meet-the-5-people-running-for-the-memphis-school)). The race occurs against a backdrop of state legislative efforts to potentially create a board of managers that could reduce local school board authority ([Chalkbeat Tennessee Voter Guide](https://www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/04/14/voter-guide-memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-election-district-9/)).\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\nNo statement of interest filing found as of 2026-04-25. Search the [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm).\n","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County School Board District 9"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"shelby","displayname":"Morganfield, Louis","documents":[{"datesubmitted":null,"documentid":null,"documentname":null,"documentnameid":[null,null],"documenttype":null,"electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"County School Bd., Dist. 9","source_customer_id":"EE6EBC62-7B7C-432F-869E-4DE111271E07","source_filer_id":"008D0990-5F81-4C5B-9C09-30F2818026E5","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Louis","fullname":"Louis M. Morganfield III","lastname":"Morganfield","middlename":"M.","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_9","contest_title":"County School Board District 9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_school_board_division_9","office_title":"County School Board Division 9","party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":"shelby","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_9","contest_title":"County School Board District 9","county":"shelby","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"shelby","office_key":"county_school_board_division_9","office_title":"County School Board Division 9","party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_division_9","office_title":"County School Board Division 9","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"suffix":"III","terms":[],"token":"aizhRiGGIg"}