{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"BRAD VANKIRK","chatgptsummary":"Brad VanKirk's forty-year career in sales, mortgage brokerage, and real estate demonstrates relevant experience with property taxation and zoning issues central to county budgeting and land use policy. His background includes local family ties through three daughters and grandchildren attending area schools, suggesting constituent connection. The biography contains no record of disciplinary action or controversy. Bio does not indicate prior legislative experience or specific training in Tennessee county-government law.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nBrad VanKirk is the Republican candidate for Montgomery County Commission District 21 in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, running against independent incumbent David Shelton after winning the Republican primary [1][2]. He says he wants to use his experience in zoning and property taxation to guide responsible growth and planning [1].\n\n## Background and education\nVanKirk was born in Warsaw, Indiana, and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Austin Peay State University on a golf scholarship [1].\n\n## Career\nVanKirk's career spans more than 40 years, beginning with about a decade in health-care sales, then work as a mortgage broker, and for the past 16 years as a real estate professional [1].\n\n## Family\nVanKirk is the father of three grown daughters who attended CMCSS and the grandfather of children currently enrolled [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Brad VanKirk announces candidacy for Montgomery County Commission, District 21](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/brad-vankirk-announces-candidacy-for-montgomery-county-commission-district-21/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"BRAD","lastname":"VANKIRK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"5nPundmYyw"},"token":"brad_vankirk"},{"candidatename":"DAVID WAYNE SHELTON","chatgptsummary":"David W. Shelton's biography shows incumbent experience serving as a Montgomery County Commissioner for District 21, demonstrating familiarity with legislative processes and constituent relations. His background as a business owner and community activist suggests relevant policy judgment skills. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific experience in budget literacy or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDavid W. Shelton is the incumbent independent Montgomery County Commissioner for District 21 and is running for re-election in the Aug. 6, 2026 election, facing Republican Brad VanKirk [1][2]. He runs on building quality of life in Montgomery County and expanding first-responder services in rural areas [1].\n\n## Background and career\nShelton is a community activist, business owner, writer, and columnist; his activism has focused on fairness, justice, and equality, including LGBT+ equality and conversations on race relations [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [David W. Shelton announces candidacy for County Commission, District 21](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/david-w-shelton-announces-candidacy-for-county-commission-district-21/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Who\u2019s on ballot for Montgomery County mayor, sheriff, commission, School Board](https://clarksvillenow.com/local/whos-on-ballot-for-montgomery-county-mayor-sheriff-commission-school-board/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"DAVID","lastname":"SHELTON","middlename":"WAYNE","suffix":null,"token":"e8tClkF8TU"},"token":"david_wayne_shelton"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_21","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":"2026-07-19","title":"montgomery County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://montgomerytn.gov/storage/departments/election/Legal%20%233%20-%20Sample%20Ballot%20AUG%202026.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 21"}