{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JEFF LLOYD","chatgptsummary":"Jeff Lloyd's biography shows he is a Republican nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 21, having won the May 2026 primary with 506 votes against one opponent. The record documents his party affiliation and campaign slogan but contains no evidence of prior policy judgment, budget literacy, legislative drafting, constituent case-work, or completion of state-mandated continuing education. Bio does not indicate relevant government experience or administrative experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJeff Lloyd is the Republican nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 21 on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, running for a seat being vacated by departing incumbent Chantho Sourinho [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, Lloyd defeated Clarence Santini Jr., receiving 506 votes to Santini's 100 [3]. He advances to the general election against Democrat Laura Blackwell Clark [2][3]. The Rutherford County Republican Party has promoted his candidacy under the slogan \"Let's Keep Rutherford Red!\" [4].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Election Deadline: Who Qualified for 2026 RuCo Primary \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/97847/election-deadline-who-qualified-for-2026-ruco-primary) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [August 6 General Election Candidate List \u2014 Rutherford County, TN](https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79794/August_6_General_Election_Candidate_list.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/live-may-5th-rutherford-county-primary-election-results-and-coverage-tonight-beginning-at-7pm) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[4] [Jeff Lloyd for County Commissioner District 21 \u2014 Rutherford County Republican Party (Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/RUTHGOP/posts/jeff-lloyd-is-running-for-county-commissioner-district-21-lets-keep-rutherford-r/1371756888318343/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"JEFF","lastname":"LLOYD","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"A4AGIpqdo3"},"token":"jeff_lloyd"},{"candidatename":"LAURA BLACKWELL CLARK","chatgptsummary":"Laura Blackwell Clark's biography shows leadership in educational policy and community advocacy through roles at MTSU and local boards, relevant to constituent relations and legislative collaboration. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgeting, tax rate setting, or land use planning under Tennessee law.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLaura Blackwell Clark is the Democratic nominee for Rutherford County Commission District 21 on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot, running for a seat being vacated by departing incumbent Chantho Sourinho [1][2]. In the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary she defeated Ashley Benkarski, receiving 250 votes to Benkarski's 210, and advances to the general election against Republican Jeff Lloyd [2]. Clark describes her campaign priorities as opposing expansion of Middle Point Landfill, increasing competitive salaries for educators and law enforcement, promoting affordable housing through public-private partnerships, supporting smart-growth initiatives under Plan Rutherford, and strengthening county-city collaboration [1]. She frames her approach as \"listening to the residents of District 21 and then, if elected, being the voice of District 21 on the Rutherford County Commission\" [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nClark earned a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University [1]. She is a native Memphian and has been a Rutherford County resident since 2006 [1].\n\n## Career\n\nClark's professional background spans teaching, school administration, and higher education. She served as a professor and administrator at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where she has led the PK-12 Collaborative professional development program since 2015 [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nClark serves on the state board of Tennessee Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, and as a board member of MTSU's American Democracy Project she has conducted voter-registration drives and trained students in advocacy [1]. She joined the Rutherford Neighborhood Alliance in 2024 [1].\n\n## Family\n\nClark is a mother and grandmother and a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Murfreesboro [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Home \u2014 Laura Clark for Rutherford County (campaign site)](https://lauraclark4ruco.com/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Rutherford County Voters Shake Up Local Leadership In Primary Election \u2014 WGNS Radio](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/99257/live-may-5th-rutherford-county-primary-election-results-and-coverage-tonight-beginning-at-7pm) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"LAURA","lastname":"CLARK","middlename":"BLACKWELL","suffix":null,"token":"ptZVXuMIsL"},"token":"laura_blackwell_clark"}],"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":"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 21"}