{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nH. Chris Little is an independent candidate for Carter County mayor in the August 6, 2026 general election, challenging Republican incumbent Patty Woodby [1][3]. He says he is running \"because I care deeply about Carter County and the people who call it home\" [1]. His stated priorities include preparing students for trade and AI-driven careers in partnership with the school board, strengthening regional economic partnerships, recruiting defense-industry jobs, re-establishing a flight school at Elizabethton Municipal Airport, and developing a business incubator [1].\n\n## Background and education\nLittle is a graduate of Elizabethton High School [1]. He earned a Bachelor of Science from East Tennessee State University, a Master of Science in sports medicine from Illinois State University, and a Physician Associate degree from Trevecca University [1].\n\n## Career\nLittle worked more than 30 years as a physician associate before retiring in January 2025 [1]. Early in his career he worked with collegiate and professional teams, including the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs [2]. He spent five years in the Emergency Department at Johnson City Medical Center and 25 years as a senior physician associate at Arthritis Associates in Kingsport, specializing in rheumatologic and autoimmune diseases [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nLittle has secured grant funding for local projects over more than three decades, including a boat ramp at Rat Branch (1992), a fire truck for the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department (2011), Green Bridge Landing development (2018), and a Watauga River ramp through the GO BETSY program (2020) [1]. He has cited roughly $4 million raised for county projects [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [H. Chris Little announces independent candidacy for Carter County Mayor \u2014 Elizabethton Star](https://elizabethton.com/2026/04/30/h-chris-little-announces-independent-candidacy-for-carter-county-mayor/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [About Chris Little \u2014 mayorchris.com](https://mayorchris.com/about.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [This year is shaping up to be busy political year \u2014 Elizabethton Star](https://elizabethton.com/2026/03/10/this-year-is-shaping-up-to-be-busy-political-year/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"H.","fullname":"H. CHRIS LITTLE","lastname":"LITTLE","middlename":"CHRIS","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Carter","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":null,"party":"I","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"I","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_mayor","office_title":"County Mayor","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Retired physician associate and longtime grant-writer for local projects, running as an independent for Carter County mayor in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"gnurgWriNN"}