[{"bio_snippet":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Franklin County since 1994.","biography":"According to the North Carolina voter file, David Thomas Bunn is a registered voter in Franklin County, North Carolina, registered since 1994 (32 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows David Thomas Bunn's year of birth as 1976; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 13 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of David Thomas Bunn can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"David","fullname":"David Thomas Bunn","lastname":"Bunn","middlename":"Thomas","suffix":null,"summary":"Per the NC voter file: REP voter in Franklin County since 1994.","token":"71537dab7a755d27"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"MATTHEW","fullname":"MATTHEW \"MATT\" BUNTING","lastname":"BUNTING","middlename":"\"MATT\"","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"PFKGp35HIs"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"BETTY","fullname":"BETTY J BURCH","lastname":"BURCH","middlename":"J","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"kivH2cDUMv"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign County Clerk of Fayette County, Tennessee, with main office at 1 Court Square, Room 101, Somerville. Fayette County Clerk's office https://fayettetn.us/departments/county clerk/welcome/ Listed in the UT County Technical Assistance Service director","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- County Clerk of Fayette County, Tennessee, with main office at 1 Court Square, Room 101, Somerville. ([Fayette County Clerk's office](https://fayettetn.us/departments/county-clerk/welcome/)) Listed in the UT County Technical Assistance Service directory as the Fayette County Clerk. ([CTAS](https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/official/shana-burch))\n\n## Career\n- The clerk's office sells vehicle registrations and license plates, issues marriage licenses, and processes business-tax registrations. The office also operates satellite offices in Oakland and Piperton. ([Fayette County Clerk's office](https://fayettetn.us/departments/county-clerk/welcome/))\n\nCandidate for re-election in the May 5, 2026 Fayette County Republican primary. No additional personal biographical information was located in searches of Ballotpedia, Fayette County news, and Facebook.\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURCH&id=90746&f=190636&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Fayette County official/candidate\n- **2025** \u2014 [County Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURCH&id=90746&f=182535&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Fayette County official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [County Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURCH&id=90746&f=175836&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Fayette County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-23.*\n","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Shana","fullname":"Shana N. Burch","lastname":"Burch","middlename":"N.","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"NPhAPexzpK"},{"bio_snippet":"Current office and 2026 campaign Shannon Burchett is the incumbent Carter County highway superintendent listed on ballotproject.org as Road Superintendent , seeking re election in the August 6, 2026 general election 1 . He previously ran for the same office in 2023 2 . Sources 1 ","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nShannon Burchett is the incumbent Carter County highway superintendent (listed on ballotproject.org as Road Superintendent), seeking re-election in the August 6, 2026 general election[1]. He previously ran for the same office in 2023[2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] Johnson City Press, \"Shannon Burchett announces candidacy for re-election as Carter County highway superintendent,\" December 15, 2025, via Google News: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxOU1I4OHh1SzlJMTExWlp0ZDA3NnpwWXlLN2tjRFVlZTN2cEEtWWhxTGVsbW1hakI3U1d4RlpzM0o4ZkhZTDBHOVNEY2pzdGVRbzFKVHptZU5aMVUwOU15YUhGdXZtVzZRNEh1T2lyQmx1WW1BQy1RUjlOUlVvUFFhaDhmNjlGZkN4NXp6Y0ZXTEI0eEVVR1hwdkN6Y0Y0OGhITzdWNllfUWdEa2o4VkZxaF9SNGxCZk1UYV9pajBiZUhtTWhMcUt4VXZwV09MQ28?oc=5\n[2] Elizabethton Star, \"Shannon Burchett announces candidacy for Carter County Road Superintendent,\" September 28, 2023.\n","birthdate":null,"firstname":"SHANNON","fullname":"SHANNON BURCHETT","lastname":"BURCHETT","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"TOMCrJot1V"},{"bio_snippet":"Tim Burchett is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 2nd District, first elected in 2018 and currently serving his fourth term.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTim Burchett is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee\u2019s 2nd Congressional District, seeking re-election in the 2026 election and facing a Republican primary challenge from Michaela Barnett [1][2].\n\n## Background and education\nBurchett is an East Tennessee native who grew up in Knoxville and lives in the Gibbs community of Knox County with his wife, Kelly, and their daughter, Isabel [1].\n\n## Career\nBefore entering politics, Burchett started a small business [1].\n\n## Office history\nBurchett served 16 years in the Tennessee General Assembly \u2014 four years in the State House followed by 12 years in the State Senate \u2014 then eight years as Knox County Mayor. He was first elected to the U.S. House in November 2018 and took office in January 2019 [1].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nBurchett currently serves on the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, and Transportation and Infrastructure [1]. During the 117th Congress he sponsored 23 bills and cosponsored 201, three of which were signed into law, including the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act and the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act; during the 118th Congress he sponsored 32 bills and cosponsored 218, six of which were signed into law [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [About | Representative Tim Burchett](https://burchett.house.gov/about) \u2014 U.S. House of Representatives, accessed 2026-07-20\n[2] [Candidates for United States House of Representatives, filed as of March 2026](https://sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com/s3fs-public/document/USHouseCandidates_2026.pdf) \u2014 Tennessee Secretary of State, accessed 2026-07-20","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Tim","fullname":"Tim Burchett","lastname":"Burchett","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Tim Burchett is the Republican U.S. Representative for Tennessee's 2nd District, first elected in 2018 and currently serving his fourth term.","token":"ejhMIFPzTx"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"DOTHY","fullname":"DOTHY BURCHETT-FORNEY","lastname":"BURCHETT-FORNEY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"hSZ4hRughG"},{"bio_snippet":"Independent candidate for Cocke County Mayor (Aug. 6, 2026); lifelong resident, owner of Burchette Landscaping and Burchette Earthworks, and former public-school teacher.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nChad Burchette is running as an independent candidate for Cocke County Mayor in the August 6, 2026 county general election against Republican nominee Joe Shults [1][2]. A lifelong Republican by affiliation, Burchette is on the ballot as an independent; Shults publicly noted that Burchette had not voted in three of the last four Republican primaries [3]. Announcing his candidacy, Burchette said, \"I feel I have the drive, motivation, and knowledge to operate the Cocke County government efficiently with a purpose and a plan,\" and framed his campaign around networking to bring opportunities to the county and positioning it to compete [1]. He added, \"A vote for me is a vote for our children, our workers, our retirees, our well-being and our financial future as a county and as individuals\" [1].\n\n## Background and education\nBurchette is a lifelong Cocke County resident who comes from a family of educators [1]. He graduated from Cocke County High School in 1995, earned an associate degree in production horticulture from Walters State Community College, a bachelor's degree in general studies (with minors in environmental health and criminal justice) from East Tennessee State University, and a master's degree in education from Carson-Newman College [1]. He is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Cocke County [1].\n\n## Career\nBurchette has owned Burchette Landscaping since 1995 and expanded into excavation with Burchette Earthworks around 2010 [1]. He has taught at Edgemont Elementary, Cosby High School, and Del Rio Elementary, and worked as a district sales coordinator for Aflac [1]. He holds state licenses for septic and EI pump installation [1].\n\n## Family\nBurchette foregrounded his family's education background in his campaign announcement: his mother served as director of schools for Newport and his father was principal of Smoky Mountain Elementary [1]. His wife teaches at Del Rio Elementary, and he has two children and two stepchildren [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Chad Burchette announces candidacy for Cocke County mayor - Newport Plain Talk](https://www.newportplaintalk.com/news/article_d2456622-f5f5-42e5-a27d-d7f5fed51a0e.html) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [August 6, 2026 Cocke County General Election Official Sample Ballot](https://cockecountyelections.org/s/2026-AUGUST-COCKE-COUNTY-GENERAL-SAMPLE-BALLOT.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis loses Republican bid for reelection to Joe Shults - WBIR](https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/hamblen-jefferson-cocke-greene/cocke-county-mayor-rob-mathis-loses-republican-bid-for-reelection-to-joe-shults/51-1e199ec2-8b15-4475-9f5c-3563a0f9b5fc) - accessed 2026-07-23","birthdate":null,"firstname":"CHAD","fullname":"CHAD BURCHETTE","lastname":"BURCHETTE","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Independent candidate for Cocke County Mayor (Aug. 6, 2026); lifelong resident, owner of Burchette Landscaping and Burchette Earthworks, and former public-school teacher.","token":"zKg8PCpOG4"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Gina","fullname":"Gina Hicks Burchfiel","lastname":"Burchfiel","middlename":"Hicks","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"7UH7jstaiK"},{"bio_snippet":"Matt Burchfield is listed as a candidate for Tennessee House District 057 Republican Primary in the 2026 election cycle.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nMatt Burchfield is a candidate in the 2026 Democratic primary for Tennessee House of Representatives District 57 [1]. He qualified for the ballot by meeting the filing deadline established by the Tennessee Secretary of State on March 10, 2026 [1]. His candidacy was included in the finalized list of candidates for state and federal races released following the close of the qualifying period [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[2] [Tennessee's 2026 candidate lists finalized for state and federal races \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/tennessees-2026-candidate-lists-finalized-for-state-and-federal-races/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Matt","fullname":"Matt Burchfield","lastname":"Burchfield","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Matt Burchfield is listed as a candidate for Tennessee House District 057 Republican Primary in the 2026 election cycle.","token":"v88SlKGLIA"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Steven","fullname":"Steven Burford","lastname":"Burford","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"lDY0qEjjKS"},{"bio_snippet":"Shannon Burgdorf is a Republican candidate for Sumner County Commission District 19 and serves on the Education Committee.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nShannon Burgdorf serves as a Sumner County Commissioner representing District 19 [1]. In the 2026 election cycle, she is seeking re-election to the county commission seat in the Republican primary for District 19 [4]. Her candidacy was confirmed on the official candidate lists published by the Tennessee Secretary of State following the March 10, 2026 qualifying deadline [2].\n\nBurgdorf has characterized her campaign as a response to the rapid suburban growth of Sumner County. She states that she and her husband have lived in Hendersonville since 1997 and raised four sons there, witnessing the area transform from a \"sleepy little town\" into an \"overcrowded, and over-taxed suburb of Nashville\" [7]. She argues that the current county commission has engaged in mismanagement by rezoning property for high-density residential development, which she claims overburdens emergency services, streets, schools, and parks while resulting in higher taxes [4].\n\nPrior to her 2026 campaign, Burgdorf held a leadership role within local government structures. In June 2026, the Sumner County Education Committee appointed her as its chairman following the removal of District 17 Commissioner Robert Brown by a 4-3 vote [6]. This appointment occurred just two months before Brown's term ended and ahead of a vote on the schools' $400 million fiscal year budget [6]. Burgdorf is registered as an Undecided voter in Hendersonville, Tennessee [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nShannon P. Burgdorf is 48 years old and resides in Hendersonville, Tennessee [3]. She has lived in the community with her husband for 29 years, having raised their four sons there since 1997 [4]. Public voter registration records indicate that she is registered as an Undecided voter [3].\n\nSpecific details regarding her birthplace, year of birth, religious affiliation, and formal educational background are not provided in the available sources.\n\n## Career\n\nShannon Burgdorf has lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with her husband since 1997, where they raised their four sons [4]. She is a registered voter in the city and self-describes as an undecided voter in official records [3].\n\nAs a Sumner County Commissioner representing District 19, Burgdorf serves on the county\u2019s Education Committee [6]. In June 2026, she was appointed chairman of this committee following the removal of the previous chair, Robert Brown, by a 4-3 vote [6]. Her role involves participating in the oversight of Sumner County Schools\u2019 budget and operations [6].\n\nBurgdorf is listed as an official county employee through the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service\u2019s County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) [5]. She has utilized Change.org to host petitions related to her service on the Sumner County Commission, allowing constituents to submit issues for her influence [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nShannon Burgdorf served as a member of the Sumner County Education Committee, where she was appointed chairman in June 2026 following the removal of District 17 Commissioner Robert Brown [6]. As a commissioner, she represented District 19 on the Sumner County Commission [8]. In this capacity, she held responsibilities related to county governance and budget oversight, including participation in votes for the Sumner County Schools\u2019 fiscal year budget [6].\n\nBurgdorf has sought elected office in Sumner County. She ran in the Republican primary for county commissioner in District 19, citing concerns over high-density rezoning and its impact on emergency services, streets, schools, and parks [4]. She also filed to run for the Republican State Executive Committee, with a qualifying deadline of March 10, 2026 [2].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nShannon Burgdorf serves as a commissioner for Sumner County, Tennessee, representing District 19 [1]. In this role, she is a member of the county's Education Committee, which oversees significant fiscal matters including the approval of the Sumner County Schools budget [6].\n\nBurgdorf\u2019s legislative and policy focus centers on opposing high-density residential zoning, which she argues overburdens emergency services, streets, schools, and parks while leading to higher taxes [4]. She has characterized the county's current management as mismanagement that has transformed Hendersonville from a quiet community into an overcrowded suburb of Nashville [7].\n\nIn June 2026, Burgdorf was appointed chairman of the Sumner County Education Committee by a vote of the committee members, succeeding District 17 Commissioner Robert Brown who was ousted from the chairmanship [6]. This appointment occurred shortly before the committee voted to approve the schools' fiscal year budget [6].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\n\nIn June 2024, District 17 Commissioner Robert Brown was removed as chairman of the Sumner County Education Committee by a 4-3 vote, with District 18 Commissioner Don Schmit raising concerns about the committee during that meeting [6]. Following this removal, District 19 Commissioner Shannon Burgdorf was appointed to chair the committee [6].\n\nBurgdorf has publicly criticized the current Sumner County Commission for rezoning property to high-density residential development, stating that this practice overburdens emergency services, streets, schools, and parks while resulting in higher taxes [4][7]. She describes the area as having transformed from a \"sleepy little town\" into an \"overcrowded, and over-taxed suburb of Nashville\" [4][7].\n\nBurgdorf maintains a petition page on Change.org associated with her role on the Sumner County Commission for District 19, allowing constituents to submit issues she can influence [8].\n\n## Family\n\nBurgdorf states that she has been married to her husband for 29 years and that they have lived in Hendersonville since 1997 [4]. The couple has raised four sons in the community [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Shannon Burgdorf - Sumner County, Tennessee Government](https://sumnercountytn.gov/shannon-burgdorf/)\n[2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n[3] [Shannon Burgdorf from Hendersonville, Tennessee | VoterDirectory.com](https://voterdirectory.com/tn/shannon-burgdorf/)\n[4] [Shannon Burgdorf seeks county commission seat - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/hendersonvillestandard/shannon-burgdorf-seeks-county-commission-seat/)\n[5] [County Commissioner | UT County Technical Assistance Service](https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/official/shannon-burgdorf)\n[6] [County\u2019s education chair replaced ahead of schools\u2019 budget vote - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/gallatinnews/countys-education-chair-replaced-ahead-of-schools-budget-vote/)\n[7] [Shannon Burgdorf seeks county commission seat - Main Street Media of Tennessee](https://www.hendersonvillestandard.com/news/shannon-burgdorf-seeks-county-commission-seat/article_5f1c72b6-b120-11ec-befb-8b393149e2b2.html)\n[8] [Shannon Burgdorf - Petitions & Information - Change.org \u00b7 Change.org](https://www.change.org/decision-makers/shannon-burgdorf-sumner-county-commission-district-19)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Shannon","fullname":"Shannon Burgdorf","lastname":"Burgdorf","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Shannon Burgdorf is a Republican candidate for Sumner County Commission District 19 and serves on the Education Committee.","token":"7IoQdpFafT"},{"bio_snippet":"Fred Burgess, a Randolph County at\u2011large Board of Education member, is running for the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education in 2026.","biography":"Fred Burgess is a currently elected member of the Randolph County Board of Education, serving at\u2011large, and is a candidate for the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 general election in Randolph County, North Carolina. In the 2022 election he ran for an at\u2011large seat on the Randolph County School System board and appeared on the November 8, 2022 ballot as a nonpartisan candidate, though he did not complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey [1]. The Vote\u2011USA profile confirms that he holds the at\u2011large seat on the Randolph County Board of Education as of the most recent filing [10].\n\nPublicly available biographical details beyond his elected office are limited. No specific information on his education, professional career, or prior public service appears in the cited sources. The candidate\u2019s official email address listed on the Ballotpedia page is fburgess@randolph.k12.nc.us, indicating a direct line to the Randolph County Schools system [1].\n\nDuring his prior campaign for the county board, Burgess was listed among five candidates for the at\u2011large seats, alongside David Carter, Phillip Lanier, Kurt Melvin, and Shannon Craven Whitaker, but the Ballotpedia entry does not record vote totals or outcomes [1]. No issue positions or platform statements are provided in the sources, and he has not supplied a personal campaign website. The Vote\u2011USA page notes that he is \u201ccurrently elected\u201d but offers no further policy details.\n\nOverall, Fred Burgess\u2019s public record shows experience serving on a county\u2011wide education board and a continued interest in local education governance through his 2026 candidacy for the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Fred Burgess (Randolph County Schools school board At-large, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Fred_Burgess_(Randolph_County_Schools_school_board_At-large,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2022))\n- [6] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [10] [Vote-USA | Fred Burgess | Candidate for Randolph County Board of Education at-Large, Randolph County, North Carolina | November 8, 2022 North Carolina General Election](https://vote-usa.org/Intro.aspx?State=NC&Id=NCBurgessFred)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Fred","fullname":"Fred Michael Burgess JR","lastname":"Burgess","middlename":"Michael","suffix":"JR","summary":"Fred Burgess, a Randolph County at\u2011large Board of Education member, is running for the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education in 2026.","token":"54a3b649ae0ffe2f"},{"bio_snippet":"Glenn Burgess is a Republican candidate for Circuit Court Clerk in Fayette County, TN, with public payroll records showing his employment and salary growth there from 2019 to 2024.","biography":"Glenn Burgess is a Republican candidate running for Circuit Court Clerk in Fayette County, Tennessee, during the 2026 election cycle [1]. He has been employed by Fayette County for at least several years, with public payroll records documenting his tenure from 2019 through 2024 [6]. In 2022, Burgess earned a salary of $55,328, which represented a 6% increase from the previous year and contributed to an approximate 19% total salary growth over the period from 2019 to 2022 [6]. By 2024, his compensation had risen to $75,438, marking a 21% increase from 2023 and a cumulative 62% increase since 2019 [8]. While the specific job title is not explicitly detailed in the summary snippets, he is listed among Fayette County employees with other staff members such as James Gallagher and Lee Truitt [6][8]. There is another individual named Glenn Burgess who is an academic expert in political thought at Hull University, but this person is distinct from the candidate running for office in Tennessee [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [6] [Glenn Burgess - OpenGovPay](https://opengovpay.com/tn/glenn-burgess-e/144696014)\n- [8] [Glenn Burgess - OpenGovPay](https://opengovpay.com/tn/glenn-burgess-e/186769396)\n- [11] [Glenn Burgess - The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/profiles/glenn-burgess-379579)","birthdate":"Sun, 07 May 1978 00:00:00 GMT","firstname":"Glenn","fullname":"Glenn Burgess","lastname":"Burgess","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Glenn Burgess is a Republican candidate for Circuit Court Clerk in Fayette County, TN, with public payroll records showing his employment and salary growth there from 2019 to 2024.","token":"Rn1GqPliwF"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"JESSICA","fullname":"JESSICA R. BURGESS","lastname":"BURGESS","middlename":"R.","suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"5Vu6wGTSOj"},{"bio_snippet":"Melvin Burgess is currently serving as the Assessor of Property, a position he has held since September 2018. There is no information available regarding his education, work history, community involvement, or previous campaigns. Therefore, it is difficult to objectively evaluate his capabilities based on this limited information.","biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Shelby County Assessor of Property since 2018; re-elected August 4, 2022. Current term ends September 1, 2026. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Melvin_Burgess), [UT CTAS directory](https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/official/melvin-burgess))\n- Named 2021 Tennessee Assessor of the Year. ([campaign site](https://www.burgessfor901.com/about))\n- Office: 1075 Mullins Station, Memphis, TN 38134.\n\n- Candidate in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026 \u2014 one of seven Democrats running for the open mayor's seat after incumbent Lee Harris was term-limited. General election August 6, 2026. ([Wikipedia: 2026 Shelby County mayoral election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Shelby_County,_Tennessee_mayoral_election), [Fox 13 Memphis, 7 Dems field](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/7-democrats-face-off-to-win-nomination-in-shelby-county-mayoral-race/article_6be2d526-e0df-4cb1-ad47-2bdf478e8f25.html))\n- Campaign site: [burgessfor901.com](https://www.burgessfor901.com/)\n\n- Per his campaign, his office's work contributed to a reduction of the property tax rate from $3.39 to $2.69 per $100 assessed value before FY 2026, attributed in part to the assessor's \"new growth\" discovery. ([campaign post, 2026](https://www.burgessfor901.com/post/county-mayor-candidate-talks-mata-taxes-and-development))\n- At candidate forums, has emphasized transit (\"We've got to work together to fix that transportation issue\"), blight (\"All these properties that are out there like that, give them back to the CDCs\"), and inclusive governance (\"Everybody will have a seat at the table\"). ([campaign post, 2026](https://www.burgessfor901.com/post/county-mayor-candidate-talks-mata-taxes-and-development))\n\n## Background and education\n- B.S. in Accounting, Grambling State University. Product of Memphis City Schools. ([campaign site](https://www.burgessfor901.com/about))\n\n## Career\n- Former Chief Internal Auditor, Memphis/Shelby County Schools.\n- Founded the Shelby County Commission's Audit Committee; former Shelby County Board Chairman; founder of the Shelby County Appraisal Institute. ([campaign site](https://www.burgessfor901.com/about))\n\n- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; Delta Boule Chapter of Sigma Pi Phi. ([campaign site](https://www.burgessfor901.com/about))\n\n---\n\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18. Several campaign accomplishments (backlog elimination, award recognition details) are sourced from the campaign's own site and were not independently confirmed in this pass.*\n\n## Office history\n- Shelby County Board of Commissioners, District 7, 2010\u20132018. Succeeded by Tami Sawyer. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Melvin_Burgess))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [Property Assessor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURGESS&id=18831&f=200748&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Mayor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURGESS&id=18831&f=200751&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2025** \u2014 [Property Assessor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURGESS&id=18831&f=190053&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [Property Assessor (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=BURGESS&id=18831&f=174178&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n\n## Family\n- Wife Sandra; two daughters; family resides in the Evergreen Historic District of Midtown Memphis.\n- Father was Melvin Burgess, a former Memphis Police Director. ([campaign site](https://www.burgessfor901.com/about), [Fox 13 Memphis](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/7-democrats-face-off-to-win-nomination-in-shelby-county-mayoral-race/article_6be2d526-e0df-4cb1-ad47-2bdf478e8f25.html))\n","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Melvin","fullname":"Melvin Burgess","lastname":"Burgess","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":"Melvin Burgess is currently serving as the Assessor of Property, a position he has held since September 2018. There is no information available regarding his education, work history, community involvement, or previous campaigns. Therefore, it is difficult to objectively evaluate his capabilities based on this limited information.","token":"IELQJBLYKr"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"AUSTIN","fullname":"AUSTIN BURGIN","lastname":"BURGIN","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"RjMvBWYyMt"},{"bio_snippet":"Jim Burgin, Republican incumbent, seeks re\u2011election to the North Carolina State Senate District\u202f12 seat in 2026.","biography":"Jim Burgin is the incumbent Republican candidate for the North Carolina State Senate District 12 seat in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November 3, 2026. He has served in the Senate since January\u202f1, 2019 and his current term runs through January\u202f1, 2027, after winning re\u2011election in 2024 [1][8][7].\n\nBorn May\u202f20, 1956, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Burgin earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville [1][8][18]. He later moved to North Carolina, where he built a career as a businessman, serving as President and Owner of C&D Insurance, Chairman of the Board for New Horizon Insurance Group, President of B.C. Property Inc., and a partner in John Heister Automotive, which operates Chevrolet and Chrysler\u2011Dodge\u2011Jeep dealerships. He also held leadership roles at Dairymen Inc. and as a partner at John Hiester Automotive, according to campaign and petition sites [13][20][18].\n\nBefore joining the state legislature, Burgin served two terms on the Harnett County Board of Commissioners, including a stint as board chairman, gaining experience in local government and community development [13][18]. He is active in civic life as an elder at Crossroads Baptist Church, a member of the Angier Kiwanis Club, and participant in various chambers of commerce and workforce development boards.\n\nIn the Senate, Burgin has held prominent committee positions. He chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Health Care Committee, and serves on the Agriculture, Energy, and Environment; Finance; Pensions, Retirement and Aging; and State and Local Government committees, among others, across multiple sessions (2021\u20112026) [1][8]. He has been a leading voice on health\u2011care policy, notably supporting Medicaid expansion\u2014a stance uncommon among North Carolina Republicans\u2014working with Sen. Kevin Corbin on related legislation during the 2021\u20112022 session [8].\n\nBurgin\u2019s electoral record shows consistent victories in District\u202f12: winning 60\u202f% of the vote in 2018, 60.84\u202f% in 2020, 63.45\u202f% in 2022, and 61.61\u202f% in 2024, defeating Democratic challengers each cycle [8]. He advanced from the Republican primary in March\u202f2026 and now faces Democrat Tanya White Anderson in the November general election [1].\n\nHis public service has been recognized with several honors, including North Carolina\u2019s Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2016, reflecting his contributions to the state\u2019s economic and civic life [18]. Burgin continues to emphasize improving health\u2011care access, supporting local businesses, and advancing infrastructure projects for Harnett, Lee, and Sampson counties.\n\nBurgin\u2019s campaign is organized through the website Burgin for Senate, which provides donation information and policy statements [9][19].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jim Burgin - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jim_Burgin)\n- [2] [North Carolina State Senate District 12 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_District_12)\n- [5] [Senator Jim Burgin - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/s/412)\n- [7] [2026 North Carolina Senate election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_Senate_election)\n- [8] [Jim Burgin - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Burgin)\n- [9] [Jim Burgin North Carolina Senate](https://www.burginforsenate.com/)\n- [12] [North Carolina State Sen. Jim Burgin - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/309758/James_Burgin.html)\n- [13] [James Burgin - Petitions - North Carolina State Senate - District 12 \u00b7 Change.org](https://www.change.org/decision-makers/jim-burgin-north-carolina-state-senate-district-12)\n- [14] [James Burgin - Petitions - North Carolina State Senate - District 12 \u00b7 Change.org](https://www.change.org/decision-makers/james-burgin-north-carolina-state-senate-district-12)\n- [17] [Jim Burgin - North Carolina Candidate - Transparency USA](https://www.transparencyusa.org/nc/candidate/jim-burgin)\n- [18] [Meet Jim \u2014 Jim Burgin](https://www.jimburgin.org/meet-jim)\n- [19] [Jim Burgin - NC Senate](https://www.jimburgin.org/)\n- [20] [Jim Burgin - North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus](https://ncstatesenate.com/members/jim-burgin/)","birthdate":null,"firstname":"James","fullname":"James Andrew Burgin","lastname":"Burgin","middlename":"Andrew","suffix":null,"summary":"Jim Burgin, Republican incumbent, seeks re\u2011election to the North Carolina State Senate District\u202f12 seat in 2026.","token":"d60dd57b87e55e82"},{"bio_snippet":"Candidate for Fayette County Commission, District 5 Position 1, in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary. Bio sources are limited for this rural Fayette County candidate. Web searches returned no results tying a \"Bill Burke\" to Fayette County politics, the 2026 primary, or District ","biography":"Candidate for Fayette County Commission, District 5 Position 1, in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary.\n\nBio sources are limited for this rural Fayette County candidate. Web searches returned no results tying a \"Bill Burke\" to Fayette County politics, the 2026 primary, or District 5 (Piperton/Rossville). He does not appear on the current [Fayette County Commission roster](https://fayettetn.us/county-boards-councils/county-commission/), which for District 5 lists Terrye Canady, Betty Knox Morrison Salmon, and David B. Crislip as recent representatives.","birthdate":null,"firstname":"Bill","fullname":"Bill Burke","lastname":"Burke","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"I64UansYC4"},{"bio_snippet":"","biography":null,"birthdate":null,"firstname":"Chad","fullname":"Chad Burke","lastname":"Burke","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"summary":null,"token":"Vllu2S3Egq"}]