{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Lady J. Swift","chatgptsummary":"Bio is thin: confirmed by the Tennessee Secretary of State as a 2026 ballot-qualified candidate for Assessor of Property, with a public Facebook page noted; no professional, educational, or office-relevant experience could be sourced as of this writing. Bio does not indicate experience with property-tax administration, mass appraisal, large-staff management, or technology systems typical of the assessor role.","notes":"","party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nLady J. Swift is an independent candidate for Shelby County Assessor of Property on the August 6, 2026 county general-election ballot [1]. The assessor's office is open in 2026, and Swift is one of the candidates seeking to succeed Democratic incumbent Melvin Burgess [2].\n\n## Office history\nSwift previously sought countywide office as a candidate for Shelby County Register of Deeds in 2018 [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Candidates Certified for August 6, 2026 Primary and General Election - Shelby County Election Commission](https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Candidates-Certified-for-August-6-2026-Primary-and-General-Election-33026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Shelby County August 6 election: What voters need to know - Action News 5](https://www.actionnews5.com/2026/07/17/shelby-county-august-6-election-what-voters-need-know-before-heading-polls/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Register of deeds candidate, Shelby County, Tennessee, 2018 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Category:Register_of_deeds_candidate,_Shelby_County,_Tennessee,_2018) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Lady","lastname":"Swift","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"d3bQcV72ZE"},"token":"lady_j_swift"},{"candidatename":"Javier Bailey","chatgptsummary":"Currently Chief Administrative Officer of the Shelby County Assessor's office, a role he has held for eight years; previously Chief Deputy Assessor. Named Tennessee \"Deputy Assessor of the Year\" by statewide peers in 2019 and 2022. Licensed Principal Real Estate Broker and longtime real-estate developer; JD from University of Memphis Law (1989), twenty-plus years as a trial lawyer with a property-tax consulting practice serving corporations and individuals nationally. Bio does not specifically describe CAMA or GIS system administration, though those would fall under the role he currently holds.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAccording to Ballotpedia, Bailey\u2019s campaign has received endorsements from former Congressman Harold Ford, City Councilmember Pearl Walker, and City Councilmember Yolanda Co ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey).\n\n## Background and education\nJavier Bailey graduated from Memphis Catholic High School before earning a bachelor\u2019s degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1985 ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). He subsequently obtained his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law in 1989 ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). His campaign website confirms he is a graduate of both the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/)).\n\n## Career\nBailey has described himself as a \"life long public servant\" with experience in property tax assessments and law ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). Per his campaign site, he is an ordained Elder in the Church of God in Christ, a licensed Principal Real Estate Broker, a real estate developer, and a certificated aviation pilot ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/). He has served as a consultant and advisor on real estate and property tax issues to corporations and individuals across the nation ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/)).\n\nProfessionally, Bailey practiced law as a trial lawyer for over 20 years ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). He currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Shelby County Assessor of Property\u2019s office ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/). Additionally, he has served as Chief Deputy Assessor and Chief Administrative Officer for eight years ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)).\n\nBailey is a member of the Democratic Party and is running for Shelby County Assessor of Property in Tennessee ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). He is on the ballot for the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026, with a general election scheduled for August 6, 2026 ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)).\n\nIn his campaign materials, Bailey highlights recognition from peers in the field. He states that he was selected by Assessors across the state of Tennessee as \"Deputy Assessor of The Year\" in 2019 and 2022 ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/). He further claims to have been chosen as Chief Deputy Assessor by 95 Assessors in 2019, 2022, and 2025 ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey)). Bailey emphasizes his long-term involvement in party politics, stating he has served as a leader in the Democratic Party for over 30 years ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey).\n\nBailey is married with four children and five grandchildren ([baileyassessor2026.com](https://baileyassessor2026.com/). His campaign themes focus on experience, stating that \"experience matters\" and that he values people over property ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey). He positions himself as a public servant rather than a politician, arguing that homeowners should not be entrusted to inexperienced candidates ([Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Javier_Bailey).\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":"Javier","lastname":"Bailey","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ECqsfGKAz6"},"token":"javier_bailey"},{"candidatename":"Thomas B. Lannan","chatgptsummary":"Forty-plus-year career in advertising \u2014 Past President of the American Marketing Association, Clio-award recipient \u2014 followed by current work as Recruiting Director and Broker at Ashford Advisors, a financial-services firm, not a real-estate brokerage. Civic involvement includes Collierville Rotary, Germantown and Collierville Chambers, SCORE small-business mentorship, and past board service with Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Sales & Marketing Executives. Bio does not indicate real-estate appraisal, property-tax administration, or large-staff management experience typical for the assessor role.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Thomas Lannan is a Republican candidate running for Shelby County Assessor of Property in Tennessee [1]. He is listed on the ballot for the Republican primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [1]. The general election for this office is set for August 6, 2026 [4].\n\nProfessionally, Lannan serves as a Recruiting Director and Broker in the Memphis market with Ashford Advisors [11]. Prior to this role, he worked as an advertising executive for over 40 years, during which time he won one of three national Clio Awards [11].\n\nLannan has extensive board experience in community organizations. He is a Past President of the American Marketing Association, where his focus included Economic Empowerment [11]. He also served as a Past Board Member for Junior Achievement, Sales & Marketing Executives, and Big Brothers Big Sisters [11]. Additionally, he volunteers with SCORE mentors [11].\n\nHis civic engagement includes membership in the Collierville Rotary Club, the Germantown Chamber of Commerce, and the Collierville Chamber of Commerce [11]. He resides in the Memphis area with his wife, Katherine, and they have two adult children named Patrick and Lauren [11].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Thomas Lannan - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Thomas_Lannan)\n- [2] [Sonya Murphy - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sonya_Murphy)\n- [3] [Daryl Lewis - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Daryl_Lewis)\n- [4] [Municipal elections in Shelby County, Tennessee (2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Municipal_elections_in_Shelby_County,_Tennessee_(2026))\n- [5] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [7] [District Shelby with Endorsements - bluevoterguide.org](https://bluevoterguide.org/district/TN/Shelby/42269/)\n- [8] [Candidate Directory - List View - Tennessee Voter Guide](https://tnvoterguide.org/candidate-directory-list-view-2/)\n- [11] [extras sections - Shelby Literacy Center](https://shelbyliteracy.com/extras-sections)","firstname":"Thomas","lastname":"Lannan","middlename":"B.","suffix":null,"token":"dZwkrxSntU"},"token":"thomas_b_lannan"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"shelby","districtgroup":"county","districtgroupname":"County","districtname":null,"job_type":"assessor","o.office":"assessor_of_property","office":"assessor_of_property","officedescription":"The Shelby County Assessor of Property locates, identifies, classifies, and appraises all real and personal property in the county for tax purposes. The office runs the state-mandated quadrennial reappraisal (next cycle: 2029), appraises personal property annually, and maintains approximately 353,000 real-estate parcels. The Assessor **does not** set the tax rate, send tax bills, or collect taxes \u2014 those duties belong to the County Commission (rate), the Trustee (collection), and the Clerk (registration-linked functions).","officequalities":"- **Personnel management at scale.** Leading and retaining a department of ~150\u2013200 appraisers, GIS analysts, and customer-service staff responsible for ~353,000 parcels and a multi-million-dollar budget.\n- **Real-estate appraisal and property-law expertise.** Familiarity with mass-appraisal methods, comparable-sales analysis, the four-year reappraisal cycle, and Tennessee assessment law (TN Code Title 67 Ch. 5), including exemption rules and the Board of Equalization appeals process.\n- **Technology and systems oversight.** Ability to evaluate, procure, and administer Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) software, GIS platforms, and the data infrastructure modern assessment depends on.\n- **Integrity and impartiality.** A demonstrated record of even-handed decision-making. Property valuation directly affects every taxpayer's bill, so the office's perceived fairness \u2014 under pressure from large taxpayers, political allies, and the public alike \u2014 is as important as the technical result.\n- **Public communication.** Explaining assessment methodology clearly to homeowners receiving increase notices, to journalists, and to the public bodies (County Commission, Board of Equalization, State Board of Equalization) the office reports to.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Assessor of Property","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Assessor of Property"}