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DEBBIE GLADSON SHEDDEN
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Debbie Gladson Shedden is the Republican nominee for the Hawkins County Board of Education's District 6 seat and the incumbent; she currently serves as vice-chair of the board 4. In the May 5, 2026 Republican primary she defeated challenger Travis Charles 1, 579 votes to 504 10; she is unopposed on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot 2.
Career
Shedden serves as executive director of the Tennessee School Plant Management Association and is a past president and current board member of the Hawkins County Imagination Library 3.
Office history
Shedden had served on the Hawkins County Board of Education for fourteen years as of her 2022 campaign statement, meaning she was first elected in the mid-to-late 2000s 3. On the board she has held roles including vice-chairman, chairman pro tem, and the board's representative to the Tennessee Legislative Advocacy Network 3. In the May 2022 Republican primary she turned back a challenge from Travis Charles, winning 526-474 to advance to the general election 1.
Legislative record and accomplishments
Shedden was named the 2011 Tennessee School Board Member of the Year and received the C. Hal Henard Distinguished Service Award, an honor recognized in Tennessee House Joint Resolution 74 5. She served as president of the Tennessee School Boards Association in 2016 67. She founded the Hawkins County student Board of Education representative program roughly a decade ago and continues to oversee it 8. During her tenure the district built two freshman academies, a new school at Clinch, Church Hill Intermediate School, and completed numerous other renovations 3.
Documented disputes and controversies
In December 2018, when fellow board member Rev. Tecky Hicks publicly said he would place his religious convictions above his oath to uphold state and federal law on an LGBTQ-related policy question, Shedden publicly emphasized that she had sworn to support the constitutions of Tennessee and the United States, warning the board that ignoring binding law could expose the district to litigation costs that would come out of the money available to students and teachers 9.
Sources
Public filings
Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.
Tennessee — campaign finance (search)
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State offices (Governor, TN Senate, TN House, State Executive Committee, statewide judiciary) —
Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.
Click Search for Candidates and PACs, enter last name “SHEDDEN”, and submit.
US House, US Senate, and Presidential candidates file with the FEC — see the federal section below. - County and municipal offices (County Mayor, Commissioner, Sheriff, School Board, court clerks, municipal alderman, etc.) — most major TN counties use the EasyVote portal. Select the relevant county and search by candidate name (“SHEDDEN”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “SHEDDEN”and, if needed, select the applicable position.