← Back to Shelby County, Tennessee: Election on 2026-05-05
Contest for County Commissioner District 8
County Commission
8
primary - Partisan - County Commissioner District 8
About this office
Shelby County Commissioners are the 13 members of the county's legislative body. Each represents a single-member district, and together they pass resolutions and ordinances, approve the annual county budget, set the property-tax rate, and set countywide policy. They attend regular Monday commission meetings and Wednesday committee meetings and must complete at least seven hours of continuing education each year through the UT County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS).
Salary: $34,900/year (Action News 5, Dec 2021).
Term length: 4 years.
This role calls for
- Policy judgment on countywide matters β budget, taxes, land use, services, intergovernmental β within Tennessee county-government law and the Shelby County Charter.
- Budget literacy: the 13-member commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes bond issues that span decades.
- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; chairing or sitting on committees that pre-screen items.
- Constituent relations in a single-member district of roughly 70,000 residents β case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.
- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual continuing education through UT CTAS.
Derived from the office's statutory duties and operational reality. Candidate summaries below map each candidate's documented experience to these requirements.
Campaigns
Democratic Primary
2 candidates
Jerred Price
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Price founded a roofing firm and co-owns a magazine, demonstrating small business management experience relevant to local economic policy. His tenure as a senior manager at Loweβs and store manager roles indicate operational oversight skills applicable to county service delivery. Community engagement is evidenced by his work with the Memphis City Beautiful commission and the Downtown Neighborhood Association, suggesting familiarity with constituent relations in District 8. However, the biography lacks specific details regarding budget literacy, legislative drafting experience, or knowledge of the Shelby County Charter.
Will Richardson
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Richardsonβs decades of entrepreneurship and operation of a home healthcare company provide direct experience with local economic development and service delivery models relevant to county budgeting and land use policy. His founding leadership in Men of Impact and organization of community aid efforts demonstrate established constituent relations within District 8. He has previously sought the District 8 commission seat, offering documented legislative process exposure through prior campaign participation.
Republican Primary
1 candidate
