{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"William Chism, Jr.","chatgptsummary":"Chism ran in the 2026 Democratic primary for Shelby County Probate Court Clerk, facing incumbent Eddie Jones. He previously lost the 2022 Democratic primary, securing 29.0% of the vote (13,283 votes). The general election is scheduled for August 6, 2026. This record demonstrates political engagement and prior electoral experience within Shelby County\u2019s probate jurisdiction. However, the biography provides no information regarding his professional background in records management, financial controls, or supervision of clerical staff. It also lacks details on his education, family, or specific knowledge of Tennessee court docket procedures and statutory deadlines.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nWilliam Chism Jr. was a Democratic candidate for Shelby County Probate Court Clerk in the May 5, 2026 primary, challenging incumbent Eddie Jones [1]. Jones won a close renomination, 34,230 votes (51.4%) to Chism's 32,172 votes (48.3%), with 140 write-in votes [1]. Jones ran unopposed in the August 2026 general election [1].\n\n## Office history\nChism previously challenged Jones for the same office in the 2022 Democratic primary, finishing second with 29.0% of the vote (13,283 votes) behind Jones (46.0%) and incumbent Bill Morrison (24.9%) [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Shelby Co. Probate Court Clerk (Dem) - Election Results](https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/politics/election_results/shelby-co-probate-court-clerk-dem/race_9be890b5-0279-5e20-b988-b885d6167fa2.html) - fox13memphis.com, accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [William Chism Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/William_Chism_Jr.) - accessed 2026-07-06 (not independently re-verified this session; retained from prior sourcing)","firstname":"William","lastname":"Chism","middlename":null,"suffix":"Jr","token":"kt6uilkvXn"},"token":"william_chism_jr"},{"candidatename":"Eddie Jones","chatgptsummary":"Jones chaired the Budget and Finance Committee for three years, demonstrating financial oversight relevant to trust-fund accounting and public accountability. His fourteen-and-a-half-year tenure as a Code Enforcement Supervisor involved enforcing state laws and city ordinances, providing direct experience with statutory compliance and administrative reliability. Service on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, including election as Chairman in 2020, indicates familiarity with local government operations and supervisory responsibilities for clerical staff. His background includes Human Resources and Operations administration, supporting management of high-volume workflows.","notes":"","party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nEddie S. Jones, Jr. brings an abundance of public service to the citizens of Shelby County in his role as Shelby County Probate Court Clerk. \n\u200b\nMost recently, he served with distinction on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. His colleagues unanimously elected him as Chairman in 2020. Additionally, he chaired the prestigious Budget and Finance Committee for three years.\n\u200b\nA City of Memphis employee for 30 years, Clerk Jones was an officer with the Memphis Police Department for 15 years, eight of those with the elite TACT Unit. His law enforcement credentials include Vice Squad, leadership roles in mentoring at-risk youth, coordinator of the Police Athletic League, former FBI certified firearms instructor, and Secret Service dignitary protection U.S. Presidential details.\n\u200b\nClerk Jones recently retired from the City of Memphis Code Enforcement Office as a Supervisor for the past 14 \u00bd years, enforcing state laws and city ordinances.\n\u200b\nA lifelong Shelby County resident and proud graduate of Hamilton High School, he attended Shelby State Community College, majoring in Criminal Justice and Tusculum College, where he studied Business Administration. He is married to Martel Jones and is the father of seven, delighting in the grandchildren as they join the family. He humbly serves as a Deacon at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood and still lives in the neighborhood where he grew up and where he has consistently made himself available by serving on boards and volunteering where needed.\n\u200b\nClerk Jones\u2019s dedication is advocating for children, families, and our communities. He is a multi-tasker, detail-oriented, and always strives to see the whole picture before arriving at a solution. He is a proven relationship builder, analytical negotiator, and strategist, with experience. He also brings to the table experience in Human Resources and Operations administration.\n\n## Business interests and wealth source\n- **2026** \u2014 [Probate Court Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=JONES&id=13014&f=191738&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2025** \u2014 [Probate Court Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=JONES&id=13014&f=187408&v=1) \u2014 filed as a Shelby County official/candidate\n- **2024** \u2014 [Probate Court Clerk (SS-8005)](https://conflict.app.tn.gov/conflict/view_form_8005.htm?name=JONES&id=13014&f=177154&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":"Eddie","lastname":"Jones","middlename":"S.","suffix":"Jr.","token":"nr6Vi4Nt7o"},"token":"eddie_jones"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"shelby","districtgroup":"county","districtgroupname":"County","districtname":null,"job_type":"probate_court_clerk","o.office":"probate_court_clerk","office":"probate_court_clerk","officedescription":"The Probate Court Clerk manages records and administrative services for the Shelby County Probate Court, which handles guardianships and conservatorships, estates, wills, trusts, name changes, corrections to birth certificates, and judicial hospitalizations under Tennessee's Mental Health Law.","officequalities":"- Maintains records of the Probate Court \u2014 wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and mental-health commitments. Handles trust-fund accounting for estates passing through the court.\n- Records management for the court served by this clerk's office, in conformity with Tennessee Rules of Civil/Criminal Procedure and the orders of the assigned judges.\n- Working knowledge of the relevant court's docket, fee schedule, and pleading requirements.\n- Financial controls for collecting and disbursing court costs, fines, restitution, bonds, and trust funds \u2014 with public accountability.\n- Supervision of a clerical staff handling high case volume and frequent statutory deadlines.\n- Administrative reliability \u2014 the office's filings are legally binding and its records are evidence.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Probate Court Clerk","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Probate Court Clerk"}