{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Roy L. \"Hoot\" Shields","chatgptsummary":"Roy Shields' biography shows decades of teaching experience and attendance at all commissioner workshops for 22 months, alongside military service involving high-level security clearances. In June 2026, he led a protest walkout from a zoning board meeting after developments were approved. Bio does not indicate prior elected office experience or specific budget management experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRoy \"Hoot\" Shields won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary for Blount County Commission District 8, Seat A, an open seat being vacated by incumbent Brad Bowers, who ran for county mayor instead of re-election [1]. Shields faces Democrat Patti Young in the August 6, 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Background and education\nShields describes himself as a lifelong Blount County resident and direct descendant of a Cades Cove family, citing \"over 250 years of Appalachian heritage\" [1]. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran and former federal officer whose work included presidential and dignitary protection details, and says he held Top Secret and Q-level clearances; he describes himself as a 1976 Congressionally-awarded Eagle Scout [1].\n\n## Career\nPer his candidate profile, Shields has spent decades training and teaching \"kids, teens, and adults\" and says he attended every county commissioner workshop and meeting for the 22 months preceding his campaign [1]. He says his current income is VA disability benefits and Social Security [1].\n\n## Documented disputes and controversies\nAt the Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals' June 4, 2026 meeting on special exceptions for two apartment developments totaling 824 units, Shields \u2014 identified by The Daily Times as \"the GOP candidate for Seat 8-A on county commission\" \u2014 stood and said, \"I stand in protest of the decisions made tonight and will remove myself from this meeting,\" then led roughly half the attendees out of the room after the board approved the developments 3-1 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hats in the Ring: County Commission Seat 8-A](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thedailytimes.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/72/f72f2995-565a-445c-9d6d-7ff27bc8a433/69e842ce2f393.pdf.pdf), The Daily Times (candidate questionnaire)\n[2] [Large crowd vocally unhappy as Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals approves apartment projects](http://www.thedailytimes.com/news/large-crowd-vocally-unhappy-as-blount-county-board-of-zoning-appeals-approves-apartment-projects/article_adb7a1d2-25eb-4414-b890-ba6a7a2bef8b.html), The Daily Times","firstname":"Roy","lastname":"Shields","middlename":"L. \"Hoot\"","suffix":null,"token":"L20Zh7BZJR"},"token":"roy_l_hoot_shields"},{"candidatename":"Patti Young","chatgptsummary":"Patti Young's biography shows a master's degree from the University of Tennessee and thirty-four years teaching public school art and theater, alongside running a farm business and serving as a state legislative nominee in 2024. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval, land use policy, or formal legislative drafting within Blount County government structures.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPatti Young is the Democratic nominee for Blount County Commission District 8, Seat A, facing Republican Roy L. \"Hoot\" Shields in the Aug. 6, 2026 general election [1][2]. She filed in February 2026 as the only Democratic candidate after Republican incumbent Brad Bowers left the seat open to run for county mayor [3].\n\n## Background and education\nPer her Ballotpedia candidate profile, Young holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the University of Tennessee [4].\n\n## Career\nPer her Ballotpedia profile, Young taught art, videography, filmmaking, and theater in Maryville City Schools for 34 years before retiring, including writing and directing original student plays, many centered on themes of equal rights and government [4]. She and her husband, Phil Young, own and operate Young Mountain Farm, an equestrian facility in Maryville [4][5]. She previously ran as the Democratic nominee for TN State Senate District 2 (which includes all of Blount County) in 2024, losing the general [4].\n\n## Family\nHer husband, Phil Young, is also on the Aug. 6, 2026 ballot, as the Democratic nominee for Blount County School Board, District 1 [1][2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Blount County Election Commission, \"May 5, 2026 Petitions\"](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29506/May-5-2026-Petitions-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Blount County Election Commission, \"August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot\"](https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [The Daily Times, \"County mayor, clerk primary filings pick up as deadline nears\"](https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/county-mayor-clerk-primary-filings-pick-up-as-deadline-nears/article_b6bdaf25-5202-4778-bf2a-033c130cc248.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [Patti Young, Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Patti_Young) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06\n[5] [Young Mountain Farm, staff page](https://youngmountainfarm.weebly.com/staff.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"Patti","lastname":"Young","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Tav4pI9ADR"},"token":"patti_young"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_8","officedescription":"A county commissioner is a member of the county's legislative body. The commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, authorizes borrowing, and passes county resolutions and ordinances. Commissioners are elected from districts (or at-large seats) to represent constituents on countywide policy.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, and intergovernmental issues \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law.\n- Budget literacy: the commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes multi-year bond issues.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; committee work that pre-screens items.\n- Constituent relations in the district \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-02","title":"Blount County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.blounttn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30077/August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot-PDF"},"title":"County Commission District 8, Seat A"}