Patricia Possel was appointed as a Republican Election Commissioner in April 2025. A lifelong voter, she has worked with the Election Commission, both as a poll watcher and as an Election Day poll worker.
Possel grew up in Ohio and attended Wright State University in Fairborn where, in 1988, she earned a B.S. cum laude in education, with a concentration in comprehensive social studies. That same year, her family relocated to Florence, Kentucky. Possel volunteered in several different capacities, from working at her children’s schools to fundraising for community groups. Possel spearheaded a major fundraising project for Mary Queen of Heaven School, which became an annual tradition. She also taught and tutored at other schools in the area.
In 1996, the family moved to West Lafayette, Indiana. Possel began undertaking even larger fundraising projects for the Tippecanoe County Historical Association and at Lafayette Catholic Schools, where she also had a part-time position. She coordinated the most profitable booth at the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon and took the lead for the annual school auction.
In 2000, Possel’s family moved to the Cordova suburb of Memphis, Tennessee. She had long-ago adopted the spirit of volunteerism for which the state is known. She continued to volunteer with her children’s schools and took a position with a local photographer working in sales and marketing and as an assistant.
This piqued her interest in photography, and she started honing her own photographic skills. She joined Memphis Camera Club and was named Photographer of the Year for the Greater Memphis Area by the club in 2007. This was the beginning of a new career for Possel. Word of mouth spread about her photography, and she built a client base before opening Patti Possel Photography. Her love of teaching has led her to give private lessons in photography for the last 15 years.
Something happened in 2012 that drew her attention toward public service. Possel awakened to the news that her community had been annexed by the City of Memphis. After much research, networking and connecting with other people who had been fighting for property rights, Possel started a networking web, and began attending meetings in Nashville to become acquainted with legislators in Shelby County and in other parts of the state.
In 2014, Tennessee became the 47th state to end the unconstitutional practice of forced annexation. Yet, the fight was not over. It took another five years before the Memphis City Council voted to de-annex south Cordova.
Possel serves as webmaster for Tennessee Federated Republican Women, and the Facebook Administrator for South Cordova Neighborhood and Friends. She is a member of the Republican Party of Shelby County, where she was elected to serve as a member-at-large, the Treasurer, and as First Vice Chairwoman throughout the years. She also is a member of Shelby County Republican Women’s Club and is a past member of the board of Shelby County Residential Services.
