{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"CHAY WOODS","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"CHAY","lastname":"WOODS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"jZ8fM4vBkV"},"token":"chay_woods"},{"candidatename":"SHAWN MCGOWAN","chatgptsummary":"McGowan's background as a CPA and CFO with over thirty years in financial oversight directly supports the budget literacy and fiscal accountability required for county commissioners. His accounting education and career demonstrate capacity to manage budgets, set tax rates, and oversee bond issues. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience in legislative drafting or constituent case-work.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nShawn McGowan is the Republican candidate for Rutherford County Commission District 15 in 2026, and advanced to face Democrat Chay Woods in the August 6, 2026 general election [1][2]. McGowan says he decided to run after learning that Middle Point Landfill was seeking to expand for another 50 years: \"I never expected to run for public office... when I learned that Middle Point Landfill was seeking to expand for another 50 years... I felt called to get involved\" [1]. His platform priorities include diverting waste from Middle Point Landfill through expanded recycling and improved waste management, ensuring fiscal accountability and sound financial oversight, promoting responsible growth that funds infrastructure, schools and public safety, and protecting the county's AAA bond rating [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nMcGowan holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Villanova University and an MBA from Oklahoma State University, and is a Certified Public Accountant [1].\n\n## Career\n\nMcGowan is the Chief Financial Officer for Whitsell Corporation and has more than 30 years of experience in financial oversight, budgeting, and risk management [1].\n\n## Family\n\nMcGowan has been married to his wife, Laura, for nearly 30 years; she teaches at Providence Christian Academy [1]. They have two adult children: Meghan, a teacher in Rutherford County schools, and Ryan, who works for Frito-Lay in Georgia [1]. McGowan is an active member of The Experience Community Church in Murfreesboro [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Shawn McGowan Announces Run for Rutherford County Commission, District 15](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/95888/shawn-mcgowan-announces-run-for-rutherford-county-commission-district-15) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/rutherford-county-voters-shake-up-local-leadership-in-primary-election) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"SHAWN","lastname":"MCGOWAN","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"pCiw2mnN6s"},"token":"shawn_mcgowan"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":null,"office":"county_commission_district_15","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":"rutherford County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79850/Sample_Ballot_Rutherford_County_General_Aug_2026.pdf"},"title":"County Commission District 15"}