{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Ryan Ramkhelawan","chatgptsummary":"Ryan Ramkhelawan's biography shows no prior elected office or specific background in budgeting, land use, or legislative processes required for Shelby County Commissioner District 3. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with county budgets or constituent case-work.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Ryan Ramkhelawan is a candidate for Shelby County Commissioner, District 3 in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n- Candidate in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n- He is facing Republican candidate Michele Dial in the general election on August 6, 2026. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n## Background and education\n- No educational background is provided in the sources. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n## Office history\n- No prior elected office is mentioned in the provided sources for Ryan Ramkhelawan. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.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=RAMKHELAWAN&id=103904&f=199670&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- No family information is provided in the sources. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n","firstname":"Ryan","lastname":"Ramkhelawan","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"IRlwFGCnNJ"},"token":"ryan_ramkhelawan"},{"candidatename":"Michele Dial","chatgptsummary":"Michele Dial's biography shows nearly three terms as Lakeland Commissioner and two elected terms as Vice Mayor, demonstrating direct experience with local legislative processes and constituent relations. Her thirty-six-year career in public education suggests familiarity with budget matters affecting schools. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with Shelby County Charter law or state-mandated continuing education requirements.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- Lakeland Commissioner; served nearly three terms. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n- Vice Mayor of Lakeland, elected twice by her peers. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n- Republican candidate in the primary on May 5, 2026. ([Daily Memphian](https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/55246))\n- Running to fill the seat of Mick Wright, who is term-limited. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n- Top priorities include education, public safety, and transparency of county and MSCS budget dollars. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n## Career\n- 36-year veteran of public education. ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\n\n## Office history\n- Lakeland Commissioner (District 3 area). ([AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-candidates-shelby-county-commissions-093103154.html))\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\n## Family\n- Information not provided in sources.\n\n---\n*Compiled from publicly available web sources on 2026-04-18.*\n","firstname":"Michele","lastname":"Dial","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"fbU2l5Mjbb"},"token":"michele_dial"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"3","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 3","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_3","office":"county_commission_district_3","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 3","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 3"}