Amber Lea Mills

Current office and 2026 campaign

Amber Mills is a Republican member of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners representing District 1, a position she assumed in 2018 and whose term ends on September 1, 2026 ¹. In the 2026 election cycle, Mills is running for the Tennessee House of Representatives to represent District 99 ¹. She is listed as a candidate on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for August 6, 2026 ¹.

Mills has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for the 2026 election ¹. Her campaign website describes her record as "principled," "proven," and "conservative," highlighting nearly eight years on the Shelby County Commission where she states she has fought for veterans, supported law enforcement, and opposed tax increases ⁴.

The Republican primary for District 99 features a contest between Mills and incumbent State Representative Tom Leatherwood ⁵. Coverage of the race notes that the candidates do not have major ideological differences, with the campaign focusing on personality and effectiveness regarding the district's anticipated growth from Ford Motor Co.'s electric SUV plant ⁶. The primary is one of only two contested Republican primaries for Shelby County seats in the Tennessee General Assembly during this election cycle ⁷.

Background and education

Amber Mills was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Clay and Wanda Marlow ³. She grew up with her sister, Tawny Walker ³. Her secondary education included time at high schools in El Dorado, Arkansas, and Seaford, Delaware, before she graduated from Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama ³.

Mills earned a piano scholarship to Wallace State College, where she played in the jazz band ³. Specific details regarding her university degrees or religious affiliation are not provided in the available sources.

Career

Amber Mills was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Clay and Wanda Marlow and grew up with her sister, Tawny Walker ³. She attended high schools in El Dorado, Arkansas, and Seaford, Delaware, before graduating from Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama ³. Mills earned a piano scholarship to Wallace State College, where she played in the jazz band ³.

Prior to her election to the Shelby County Commission, Mills worked as an accountant for 15 years ². She is also a licensed cosmetologist and owns a hair salon ².

Office history

Amber Mills was elected to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for District 1 on August 2, 2018, assuming office that year with a term ending on September 1, 2026 ¹². Her district includes Arlington, Millington, Shelby Forest, Rosemark, and Kerrville ². She was re-elected to a second term in August 2022 ².

Mills ran for the Republican nomination in the Tennessee House of Representatives District 99 primary on August 6, 2026, challenging incumbent State Representative Tom Leatherwood ¹⁵. As of May 11, 2026, this election has not yet occurred and its outcome is unknown ¹.

Legislative record and accomplishments

As a Shelby County Commissioner representing District 1 since 2018, Mills has established a legislative record focused on fiscal conservatism and local infrastructure ⁴. She self-describes as having "opposed every tax increase" during her tenure, a stance highlighted in her campaign materials for the Tennessee House of Representatives ⁴. In August 2026, she is running for election to represent District 99 in the state legislature ¹.

During her time on the county commission, Mills participated in debates over local fiscal policy, including efforts to fix the county's tax rate amid concerns about potential budget shortfalls and the need to avoid tax hikes ⁹. Her work has also included supporting infrastructure projects such as the securing of initial funding for the Lone Sailor Monument in Millington ⁸.

Mills identifies herself as a conservative who "fought for veterans" and "stood with law enforcement" while serving on the commission ⁴. In her bid for the state House, she has positioned herself against incumbent State Representative Tom Leatherwood, criticizing his effectiveness and character rather than focusing on ideological differences ⁵⁶. She argues that District 99 requires a leader capable of managing rapid growth anticipated from nearby industrial developments, such as Ford Motor Co.’s electric SUV plant at the Megasite of West Tennessee ⁶.

Documented disputes and controversies

In the Republican primary for Tennessee House District 99, Commissioner Amber Mills faced incumbent State Representative Tom Leatherwood, with the contest characterized by personal clashes rather than policy disagreements ⁵. Mills described Leatherwood as a "career politician" who had left a mess in the Shelby County Register of Deeds Office, while Leatherwood argued that his experience was necessary to guide Tennessee through the COVID-19 pandemic ⁵.

The primary race was framed by critics and supporters alike as being driven by "personality and effectiveness" rather than ideological differences, with Mills arguing that the district required a more energetic leader to manage anticipated growth from Ford Motor Co.’s electric SUV plant at the Megasite of West Tennessee ⁶. The Daily Memphian noted that this contest was one of only two contested Republican primaries for Shelby County seats in the Tennessee General Assembly during that election cycle, with the other being for State Senate District 31 ⁷.

Family

Amber Mills was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Clay and Wanda Marlow ³. She grew up with her sister, Tawny Walker ³.

Sources