{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Keeley Greer","chatgptsummary":"Keeley Greer's twenty-year tenure as a Memphis Police Department officer and status as a Shelby County native provide evidence of local community familiarity relevant to constituent relations for District 8. The biography contains no documented controversies or disciplinary records regarding her professional conduct. Bio does not indicate experience in county budgeting, legislative drafting, or land use policy judgment required by the office.","notes":"","party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKeeley Greer is an independent candidate for Shelby County Commissioner, District 8, on the August 6, 2026 county general-election ballot [1]. District 8 covers downtown Memphis, the Medical District and South Memphis; the seat is open because Democratic incumbent Mickell Lowery is running for Shelby County Mayor [2]. Greer is running against Republican E.J. Murphy and Democrat Will Richardson [2].\n\n## Career\nGreer is described in local election coverage as a Shelby County native and an officer with the Memphis Police Department of roughly 20 years [2].\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] [Election Guide for Aug. 6, 2026 - WREG](https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/election-guide-for-aug-6-2026/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n\n## Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)\n- [Election Guide for Aug. 6, 2026 - WREG](https://wreg.com/news/your-local-election-headquarters/election-guide-for-aug-6-2026/) (blocked to automated retrieval this session - MPD-officer and native-son details should be re-verified against this page before publication)","firstname":"Keeley","lastname":"Greer","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ATrdpqyCN7"},"token":"keeley_greer"},{"candidatename":"Will Richardson","chatgptsummary":"Will Richardson's biography shows decades of business ownership, including a home healthcare firm, and veteran leadership in the Marine Corps, alongside community mentoring through Men of Impact. He previously ran for county commissioner in 2019 and state representative in 2023. Bio does not indicate experience with county budget approval or legislative drafting within Shelby County government law.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nHis campaign platform, titled \"The Will to Lead,\" focuses on three core areas: public safety, education, and economic empowerment ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). Regarding public safety, he advocates for community-based policing, conflict resolution education for youth, and replacing the aging county jail with a modern facility ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). On education, he supports early childhood programs, improved literacy, and the return of vocational and trade programs ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/); [The Will to Lead](https://thewilltolead.com/)). Economically, he emphasizes revitalizing downtown Memphis, supporting minority-owned businesses, and holding corporations accountable for job creation ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). He also champions government transparency and open meetings ([The Will to Lead](https://thewilltolead.com/); [Just My Memphis](https://justmymemphis.com/willrichardson)).\n\nRichardson received an endorsement from ChangeTN during the 2023 election cycle ([Ballotpedia.org/Will Richardson](https://ballotpedia.org/Will_Richardson)). He also secured support from the Memphis Urban League for his bid\n\n## Career\nWill Richardson is a lifelong Memphian who has worked as an entrepreneur and business owner in Shelby County, Tennessee ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). He founded and operates multiple businesses, including a home healthcare company that provides services to the elderly and disabled across the county ([Meet Will Richardson for State Representative District 86 - Memphis Urban League](https://memul.org/meet-will-richardson-for-state-representative-district-86/); [About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). Per his campaign site, he has spent decades mentoring youth and coaching sports, as well as organizing community aid efforts such as water deliveries during crises ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). He is also a founding leader of Men of Impact, an initiative focused on mentoring young men and fostering fatherhood ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)).\n\nRichardson is a decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps ([Meet Will Richardson for State Representative District 86 - Memphis Urban League](https://memul.org/meet-will-richardson-for-state-representative-district-86/); [About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). He was raised by a single mother in North Memphis, where he learned values of hard work and perseverance ([About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)). He identifies as a husband, father, and grandfather ([Meet Will Richardson for State Representative District 86 - Memphis Urban League](https://memul.org/meet-will-richardson-for-state-representative-district-86/); [About Will - Will Richarson](https://thewilltolead.com/about-will/)).\n\n## Office history\nRichardson has sought elected office in Tennessee at both the state and county levels. In 2019, he ran for Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 8 ([Ballotpedia.org/Will Richardson](https://ballotpedia.org/Will_Richardson)). He later ran for Tennessee House of Representatives District 86, finishing fourth in the special Democratic primary held on January 24, 2023, with 8.1% of the vote ([Ballotpedia.org/Will Richardson](https://ballotpedia.org/Will_Richardson)). He is currently running for Shelby County Board of Commissioners District 8, appearing on the ballot for the Democratic primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 ([Ballotpedia.org/Will Richardson](https://ballotpedia.org/Will_Richardson)).\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":"Will","lastname":"Richardson","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Hn0xAw7oA6"},"token":"will_richardson"},{"candidatename":"E. J. Murphy","chatgptsummary":"E. J. Murphy's biography shows no prior elected office or specific experience with Shelby County budgeting, land use policy, or legislative drafting required for District 8. The record includes a 2026 ethics filing as a candidate but documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in constituent case work or state-mandated continuing education through UT CTAS.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n- E. J. Murphy is a Republican candidate for Shelby County Commissioner, District 8. ([Election Commission](https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Petitions-Issued-as-of-COB-on-February-13-2026.pdf))\n\n[Murphy's Instagram campaign page](https://www.instagram.com/elect.murphy/)\n\n## Background and education\n- No biographical information regarding education is available in the provided sources.\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=MURPHY&id=103896&f=200444&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 biographical information regarding family is available in the provided sources.\n","firstname":"E.","lastname":"Murphy","middlename":"J.","suffix":null,"token":"r1DAnnoyFf"},"token":"e_j_murphy"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"8","districtgroup":"county_commission","districtgroupname":"County Commission","districtname":"District 8","job_type":"county_commissioner","o.office":"county_commission_district_8","office":"county_commission_district_8","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 8","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"County Commissioner District 8"}