{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLaura Blackwell Clark is the Democratic nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 21 on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, running for a seat being vacated by departing incumbent Chantho Sourinho [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary she defeated Ashley Benkarski, receiving 250 votes to Benkarski's 210, and advances to the general election against Republican Jeff Lloyd [2]. Clark describes her campaign priorities as opposing expansion of Middle Point Landfill, increasing competitive salaries for educators and law enforcement, promoting affordable housing through public-private partnerships, supporting smart-growth initiatives under Plan Rutherford, and strengthening county-city collaboration [1]. She frames her approach as \"listening to the residents of District 21 and then, if elected, being the voice of District 21 on the Rutherford County Commission\" [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nClark earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University [1]. She is a native Memphian and has been a Rutherford County resident since 2006 [1].\n\n## Career\n\nClark's professional background spans teaching, school administration, and higher education. She served as a professor and administrator at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where she has led the PK-12 Collaborative professional development program since 2015 [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nClark serves on the state board of Tennessee Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, and as a board member of MTSU's American Democracy Project she has conducted voter-registration drives and trained students in advocacy [1]. She joined the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance in 2024 [1].\n\n## Family\n\nClark is a mother and grandmother and a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Murfreesboro [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Home \u2014 Laura Clark for Rutherford County (campaign site)](https://lauraclark4ruco.com/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/live-may-5th-rutherford-county-primary-election-results-and-coverage-tonight-beginning-at-7pm) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Commission District 21"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"LAURA","fullname":"LAURA BLACKWELL CLARK","lastname":"CLARK","middlename":"BLACKWELL","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission_district_21","contest_title":"County Commission District 21","county":"Rutherford","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":null,"party":"D","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"D","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission_district_21","office_title":"County Commission District 21","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Democratic nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 21, an educator with a Vanderbilt doctorate and a long career at MTSU.","terms":[],"token":"ptZVXuMIsL"}