{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nScott Phifer is a candidate for Benton County mayor in the August 6, 2026 county general election, appearing on the ballot as an independent candidate [1]. He is one of three independent challengers to incumbent Republican mayor Mark Ward [2].\n\n## Background and education\nPhifer is from Big Sandy, Tennessee [3].\n\n## Career\nPhifer told the Benton County Republican Party at a January 2026 meeting that he has 20 years in ambulance service [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Ballot for Benton County, August 6, 2026 - Benton County Election Commission](https://www.bentoncotnelections.com/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Incumbents, challengers begin qualifying process for 2026 Benton County elections - The Camden Chronicle](https://thecamdenchronicle.com/stories/incumbents-challengers-begin-qualifying-process-for-2026-benton-county-elections,118215) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Candidates introduce themselves at the Benton County Republican Party meeting - The Camden Chronicle](https://thecamdenchronicle.com/stories/candidates-introduce-themselves-at-the-benton-county-republican-party-meeting,120044) - accessed 2026-07-23\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Scott Phifer for Benton County Mayor - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/p/Scott-Phifer-for-Benton-County-Mayor-61586208906339/) (campaign Facebook page; content not accessible without login)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","county":"Benton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"County Mayor"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Scott","fullname":"Scott Phifer","lastname":"Phifer","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_mayor","contest_title":"County Mayor","county":"Benton","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":"Benton","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":"Big Sandy resident and independent candidate for Benton County mayor in 2026, with 20 years in ambulance service.","terms":[],"token":"wpzj6XP8ug"}