{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Amber Huett-Garcia","chatgptsummary":"Huett-Garcia's biography shows extensive experience in policy analysis, budget management involving billions in funds, and constituent relations through school board service and advocacy leadership. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with Shelby County Charter law or the specific legislative process of a county commission.","notes":null,"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":"Ed Apple","chatgptsummary":"Ed Apple's biography shows real estate development and board service relevant to budget literacy and constituent relations for County Commissioner District 13. He previously ran for this seat in 2022, losing to Michael Whaley. Bio does not indicate experience with county legislative processes or state-mandated continuing education.","notes":null,"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"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"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":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 13"}