{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid W. Shelton is the incumbent independent Montgomery County Commissioner for District 21 and is running for re-election in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, facing Republican Brad VanKirk [1][2]. He runs on building quality of life in Montgomery County and expanding first-responder services in rural areas [1].\n\n## Background and career\nShelton is a community activist, business owner, writer, and columnist; his activism has focused on fairness, justice, and equality, including LGBT+ equality and conversations on race relations [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David W. Shelton announces candidacy for County Commission, District 21](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/david-w-shelton-announces-candidacy-for-county-commission-district-21/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 21"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"DAVID","fullname":"DAVID WAYNE SHELTON","lastname":"SHELTON","middlename":"WAYNE","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Montgomery","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":"County Commission District 21","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent independent Montgomery County Commissioner for District 21 seeking re-election in 2026; activist, business owner, and columnist.","terms":[],"token":"e8tClkF8TU"}