Background

A native of Shelby County, Texas, Allison began a career in county government with the Shelby County Clerk’s office in 1985 working until 1989 as a Deputy County Clerk. Allison was first elected to an unexpired term in 2000 and has been unopposed in her last 3 terms for office.

Allison grew up on a rural chicken farm, where her parents, Hal and Leetha Boren, also raised cattle and horses. Allison graduated from Center High School in 1979 and later married John Harbison.  After graduating from high school Allison worked as a teacher for Head Start an as an abstractor/legal secretary while John continued to work for Chamber’s Water Well, drilling many of the water wells Shelby County families and farmers still use today.

In 1989, she and her husband established their own business, Shelbyville Grocery, and she managed it for eleven years.  During those years she devoted her time to her two children, the business and also attended college earning an Associate of Science Degree from Panola College graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1998, graduated with honors from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree with a Minor in Sociology.

Allison and John, who have been married for 34 years, currently reside in Shelbyville along with their children, grandchildren, and granddogs!  She enjoys sports, camping, and the outdoors.  Her favorite pastimes are reading and spending time with her two grandsons, Tucker and Chase.  She feels her greatest accomplishments in life are her two children, Summer and Britt.