{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mark Billingsley","chatgptsummary":"Billingsley served on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for eight years, including a term as Chairman during the pandemic, demonstrating experience with legislative processes and countywide policy judgment. His prior role as Germantown Vice Mayor adds to his public service record. He holds a master\u2019s degree in Leadership and Public Service from Lipscomb University and a bachelor\u2019s from the University of Memphis. Campaign priorities include public safety, education, and healthcare, alongside advocating for a unified strategic plan with the mayor and commissioners.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Republican candidate for Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 4 in the May 5, 2026 primary; running unopposed. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n\n- Public safety, education and workforce readiness, and healthcare (with emphasis on mental health and substance use). ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n- Advocates for a unified strategic plan with the county mayor and commissioners. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n- Opposes funding MATA, stating it is a City of Memphis responsibility. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n\n## Background and education\n- Master\u2019s degree in Leadership and Public Service from Lipscomb University. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n- Bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Memphis. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n\n## Office history\n- Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 4, 2014\u20132022. Re-elected in August 2018 with 68.2% of the vote. ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Billingsley))\n- Germantown Alderman and Vice Mayor. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\n- Chairman of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, leading the body during the COVID-19 pandemic. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidate-district-4-shelby-093103164.html))\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=BILLINGSLEY&id=14661&f=200994&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- Information not available in provided sources.\n\n\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Billingsley","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"nSL4itTn8v"},"token":"mark_billingsley"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"4","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 4","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_4","office":"county_commission_district_4","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 4","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 4"}