{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Erika Sugarmon","chatgptsummary":"Sugarmon\u2019s tenure as Deputy Director of Finance for Shelby County Criminal Court provides direct evidence of budget literacy and fiscal management experience relevant to countywide financial oversight. Her current role on the Board of Commission demonstrates active participation in legislative processes, including voting on ordinances and resolutions affecting District 12 constituents. As an educator with twenty-four years of service, she engages deeply with community issues through her work with Shelby County Schools and various civic boards like WILLOW and the Foster Care Review Board.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nErika Sugarmon was elected to the Shelby County Board of Commission to represent District 12 on August 4, 2022. She is currently an educator for the Shelby County Schools (24 yrs.). She previously held the position of Deputy Director of Finance for the Shelby County Criminal Court.\n\nErika Sugarmon earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the University of Memphis. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership & Policy (EdD) at the University of Memphis.\n\nErika Sugarmon serves on the Board of Women in Leadership Leaning on Wisdom (WILLOW), Tennessee Women\u2019s Political Caucus (TN-WPC), Shelby County Democratic Party (SCDP), and Memphis-Shelby County Education Association (M-SCEA). She has served as the Youth Village Council Chair and on the Foster Care Review Board. She also served on the TN COVID-19 Health Care Task Force. She has been a National Education and Tennessee Education Association (NEA & TEA) delegate.\n\nErika Sugarmon is the daughter of a Civil Rights Lawyer, the late Judge Russell B. Sugarmon, social justice activist, professor, and author, the later Dr. Miriam DeCosta Willis. Erika is the sister of the Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge, Tarik Sugarmon, and her other siblings include Elena Williamson and Monique Sugarmon. Erika has three children and five grandchildren and has been a foster and respite parent for several years.\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=SUGARMON&id=81347&f=197809&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2026** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005 (Amended))](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=SUGARMON&id=81347&f=197809&v=2) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2025** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=SUGARMON&id=81347&f=182290&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [County Commission (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=SUGARMON&id=81347&f=178739&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n\n*Source: [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm). Scraped 2026-04-25.*\n","firstname":"Erika","lastname":"Sugarmon","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"KGx7y32leP"},"token":"erika_sugarmon"},{"candidatename":"Jevonte Porter","chatgptsummary":"Porter\u2019s tenure as a Community Development Analyst for Memphis involved assisting neighborhoods in accessing services and participating in city decisions, demonstrating experience with constituent relations and intergovernmental coordination. His role leading strategic partnerships for Youth Villages\u2019 violence intervention initiative highlights skills in building coalitions across schools, courts, and hospitals, relevant to policy judgment on public safety and community services. As Board Chair for City Year Memphis and Co-Chair of the More for Memphis Governing Body, he has exercised leadership in nonprofit governance structures.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nPorter\u2019s campaign platform focuses on four primary areas: Education & Families, Healthcare Access, Safe Neighborhoods, and Economic Power ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jevonte_Porter)). His stated goals include fighting for fully funded schools and early childhood education, expanding community clinics and mental health services, investing in youth programs and violence prevention, and creating pathways to living-wage jobs while supporting small and Black-owned businesses ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jevonte_Porter)).\n\nBallotpedia notes\n\n## Background and education\nPorter is a native son of Memphis, Tennessee ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). He graduated as Valedictian from Melrose High School ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). He later attended the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where he earned a degree in Political Science and Communication Studies ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\n## Career\nJevonte C. Porter, Sr. is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners to represent District 12 in Tennessee ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jevonte_Porter)). Per his campaign website, Porter has built a career focused on community building and public service across both government and nonprofit sectors ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\nCurrently, he serves as the Director of Community Relations at Youth Villages. In this role, he leads strategic partnerships for Memphis Allies, a violence intervention initiative aimed at saving lives and creating jobs for youth ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). His team collaborates with schools, courts, hospitals, and community leaders to ensure resources reach those in need ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\nPreviously, Porter worked as a Development Officer for Regional One Health, where he helped raise critical funds to support healthcare access for local families ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). He also served as a Community Development Analyst for the City of Memphis, assisting neighborhoods in accessing services, improving infrastructure, and participating in city decisions ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\nPorter holds several leadership roles within the Memphis community. He serves as Board Chair for City Year Memphis, Co-Chair of the More for Memphis Governing Body, and Community Engagement Chair for the Mayor\u2019s Young Professional Advisory Council ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). He is a member of the Leadership Memphis Executive Class, an alum of Leadership Tennessee NEXT, and an Urban Fellow of the City of Memphis ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\nHis community involvement has been recognized through various awards. He was named a Memphis Business Journal Top 40 Under 40, an Urban Elite Top 40 Under 40, and a Shelby County Links Inc. Man of Impact & Inspiration ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\nNo statement of interest filing found as of 2026-04-25. Search the [Tennessee Ethics Commission Statement of Interest Search](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/search.htm).\n\n## Family\nPorter identifies as a husband, father, and servant leader ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)). He is married to his wife Shelby, and they have two children, Madison and Jevonte Jr. ([porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/](https://porterforthepeople.com/2026/about/)).\n","firstname":"Jevonte","lastname":"Porter","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"PIUtS7CQIb"},"token":"jevonte_porter"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"12","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 12","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_12","office":"county_commission_district_12","officedescription":"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).\n\n**Salary:** $34,900/year ([Action News 5, Dec 2021](https://www.actionnews5.com/2021/12/21/pay-raises-approved-elected-officials-shelby-county/)).","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on countywide matters \u2014 budget, taxes, land use, services, intergovernmental \u2014 within Tennessee county-government law and the Shelby County Charter.\n- Budget literacy: the 13-member commission approves the county budget, sets the property-tax rate, and authorizes bond issues that span decades.\n- Legislative process: drafting, amending, and voting on resolutions and ordinances; chairing or sitting on committees that pre-screen items.\n- Constituent relations in a single-member district of roughly 70,000 residents \u2014 case-work and community issues flow through the commissioner's office.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual continuing education through UT CTAS.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"County Commissioner District 12","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 12"}