{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Amber Huett-Garcia","chatgptsummary":"Huett-Garcia\u2019s tenure managing over $13 billion in K-12 funds for former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn demonstrates direct budget literacy and policy judgment on large-scale fiscal matters. Her role as a policy advisor in Shelby County\u2019s Office of Education provides documented experience with local government operations and legislative processes. Serving nine years, including two as chair, for the Obesity Action Coalition indicates established constituent relations and community engagement capabilities.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAmber Huett-Garcia serves as the School Board representative for district 8. She began her career as a teacher at Ross Elementary. After teaching, she spent more than seven years at Teach for America, with responsibilities ranging from large-scale operations for a teacher training program, to corporate and foundation fundraising. From there, Huett-Garcia served in Shelby County\u2019s Office of Education as a policy advisor before working as a senior director of non-academic support strategy for one million K-12 students at the Tennessee Department of Education. She also concentrated on state health, policy, and budget roles, including managing more than $13 billion in K-12 funds for former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.\n\nHuett-Garcia currently serves as the Director of Business Development at Lemonada Media, one of the fastest-growing podcast companies in the country, with 26 shows and growing. She\u2019s passionate about obesity care as an active volunteer and emeritus member of the National Board for the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). She served nine years, including two years as chair, for over 75,000 members. She is a founding member of the Global Obesity Patient Alliance (GOPA), where she represents the United States. She is a 2018 recipient of Medtronic\u2019s Bakken Invitation, an award given to individuals who\u2019ve used their \u201cextra life\u201d to advocate.\n\nHuett-Garcia enjoys traveling, cooking, and exercising when she\u2019s not working or volunteering. She lives in East Memphis with her husband, Matt, and their daughter, Parker, an elementary student at Memphis-Shelby County Schools.\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","firstname":"Amber","lastname":"Huett-Garcia","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"LN1FhCiBD7"},"token":"amber_huett_garcia"},{"candidatename":"LaGina \"Gina\" Mitchell-Scott","chatgptsummary":"Mitchell-Scott brings over two decades of experience in education, counseling, and mental health support as a lifelong educator and nonprofit founder. Her Education Specialist degree in Leadership and Master\u2019s in School Counseling provide academic grounding for policy judgment on community services. As a district representative, she will manage constituent relations for roughly 70,000 residents through case-work and advocacy. However, her biography lacks direct evidence of budget literacy regarding the county\u2019s multi-decade bond issues or property-tax rate setting. It also does not document specific experience drafting ordinances or navigating Tennessee county-government law.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- None; running for Shelby County Commissioner, District 13 in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. The seat is currently held by Michael Whaley, who is term-limited. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/heres-running-shelby-county-commission-093138774.html))\n\n- Democratic candidate in the primary election on May 5, 2026. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/heres-running-shelby-county-commission-093138774.html))\n- Campaign site: [laginamitchellscott.com](https://laginamitchellscott.com/)\n\n## Background and education\n- Education Specialist degree in Leadership.\n- Master\u2019s in Education \u2013 School Counseling.\n- Certification in Christian Counseling.\n([Campaign site](https://laginamitchellscott.com/))\n\n## Office history\n- No prior elected office listed in sources; described as a \"lifelong educator, advocate, and community leader\" with over 20 years of experience in education, counseling, and mental health support. ([Campaign site](https://laginamitchellscott.com/))\n- Founder of a nonprofit. ([Campaign site](https://laginamitchellscott.com/))\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=MITCHELL-SCOTT&id=103890&f=200337&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\n## Family\n- Proud mother and grandmother. ([Campaign site](https://laginamitchellscott.com/))\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","firstname":"LaGina","lastname":"Mitchell-Scott","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"dOb9T8XNQq"},"token":"lagina_gina_mitchell_scott"},{"candidatename":"Ed Apple","chatgptsummary":"Apple\u2019s career in capital markets at Morgan Keegan and Pacific Global, plus founding a real estate firm, demonstrates financial acumen relevant to budget literacy and tax policy. His prior run for District 13 provides direct experience with constituent relations and legislative processes within the district. Serving on boards for St. Mary's Episcopal School, Pacific Global, and Medicos indicates familiarity with governance structures and committee work. However, the biography lacks details on specific policy judgment regarding land use or intergovernmental affairs.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- No current elected office; the District 13 seat is currently filled by Michael Whaley, who is term-limited. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/heres-running-shelby-county-commission-093138774.html))\n\n- Republican candidate in the primary on May 5, 2026. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ed_Apple))\n- General election scheduled for August 6, 2026. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/heres-running-shelby-county-commission-093138774.html))\n- Campaign website: [edapple.com](https://www.edapple.com/)\n\n## Background and education\n- Attended Avon Elementary. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Graduated from Ridgeway High School. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- University of Mississippi graduate. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n\n## Career\n- Founder of Apple Partners Real Estate, established in 2018. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Previously worked in capital markets at Morgan Keegan and Pacific Global. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Developer with experience in commercial and residential real estate, including assisted living, memory care, and multi-family properties. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Served on the boards of St. Mary's Episcopal School for girls, Pacific Global, and Medicos. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n\n## Office history\n- Ran for Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 13 in 2022; lost the general election to incumbent Michael Whaley with 46.3% of the vote (6,073 votes). ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ed_Apple))\n\n## Family\n- Husband and devoted father. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n- Owns a Labrador retriever named Leo. ([campaign site](https://www.edapple.com/))\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n\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","firstname":"Ed","lastname":"Apple","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"IKuppsewNV"},"token":"ed_apple"},{"candidatename":"Lena Chipman","chatgptsummary":"Chipman brings over four decades of Memphis residency and professional experience as a technology consultant and startup principal. Her board service with the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce suggests community engagement relevant to constituent relations. Holding bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees from the University of Memphis, she possesses academic credentials, though her background does not explicitly demonstrate budget literacy or legislative drafting skills.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- None; first-time candidate for public office. ([campaign site](https://lenachipman.com))\n\n- Announced candidacy on November 3, 2025, to replace term-limited incumbent Michael Whaley. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n- Running in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026; one of three candidates for the seat. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n- Campaign site: [lenachipman.com](https://lenachipman.com)\n\n## Background and education\n- Bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Memphis. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n- Master\u2019s degree from the University of Memphis. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n\n## Career\n- Technology consultant and principal of a startup company. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n- Board member for the MidSouth LGBT Chamber of Commerce. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n- Lived in Memphis since 1980 and has been a resident for over 40 years. ([campaign site](https://lenachipman.com); [Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n\n## Office history\n- No prior elected office. ([campaign site](https://lenachipman.com))\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=CHIPMAN&id=103869&f=198348&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\n## Family\n- Wife and mother. ([Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/03/transgender-candidate-announces-for-shelby-county-commission/))\n","firstname":"Lena","lastname":"Chipman","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"8mrq7ebIsF"},"token":"lena_chipman"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"13","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 13","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_13","office":"county_commission_district_13","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 13","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 13"}