{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEd McDonald is a Republican candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 9 on the August 6, 2026 ballot.[1] District 9 covers Fredonia Mountain and western Cagle Mountain, west of Highway 111.[1] His priorities include infrastructure and manageable growth, farmland preservation, expanded healthcare and senior services, formal county planning, road-maintenance funding, a multi-purpose county building, small-business growth, volunteer fire department support, and youth programs.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nAs a young man, McDonald was stationed at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville, where he says he \"fell in love with Tennessee.\"[1] He served four years on active duty in the Air Force followed by 29 years in the reserves, and holds degrees in fire protection/engineering and emergency management.[1]\n\n## Career\nMcDonald worked as a firefighter for 42 years, including as fire chief at Buffalo/Niagara International Airport in New York, and spent 20 years as a farmer in western New York.[1]\n\n## Family\nHe and his wife moved to Cagle Mountain nine years ago after his retirement, and both have volunteered at the local food bank.[1] He is married with three children and three grandchildren and is a member of Chapel Hill Methodist Church.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Interviews: Ed McDonald \u2014 Sequatchie Post](https://www.facebook.com/61559850526176/posts/candidate-interviews-ed-mcdonalded-mcdonald-r-is-running-for-the-sequatchie-coun/122211000602328350/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_9","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commissioner District 9"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"ED","fullname":"ED MCDONALD","lastname":"MCDONALD","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_9","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 9","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_9","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_9","contest_title":"County Commissioner District 9","county":"Sequatchie","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_9","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_9","office_title":"County Commissioner District 9","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican candidate for Sequatchie County Commission District 9; retired career firefighter and former airport fire chief who moved to Cagle Mountain.","terms":[],"token":"i5EJWvrWnc"}