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Steve Triplett
Office history
Current office and 2026 campaign
Stephen "Steve" Triplett is the Republican incumbent for Knox County Board of Education District 7, seeking re-election in the August 6, 2026 general election against Democrat Amy Fenner 13. His stated priorities are academic achievement, parental partnership and accountability; he cites improvements in Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies proficiency over the past four years and notes the district invested over $40 million in teacher compensation with fewer than ten teaching vacancies at the start of the 2025-2026 school year 3. His platform emphasizes "strong families, moral clarity, and supportive communities" and faith 3. Triplett did not participate in the Knox News voter's-guide interview or complete the online questionnaire 1.
Background and education
Triplett, 47, assumed office on the board September 1, 2022 2.
Career
He is the general manager of Chick-fil-A Fountain City and has also worked as an educator, principal and minister 42.
Documented disputes and controversies
Triplett resigned as principal of Heritage Christian School in Ohio in the fall of 2013 over financial improprieties 4. On his campaign Facebook page he acknowledged: "While serving as principal, I chose to misuse funds for personal benefit and when confronted I repaid the school for any and all expenditures and resigned." 4 According to WBIR, the school's financial office discovered the issue and Triplett was "essentially going to be fired," but the pastor at the time allowed him to resign; he restored all of the funds and was never charged 4.
Sources
Further candidate material (not accessible for this profile)
- Knox Co. School Board candidate misused funds as a principal - WBIR (page did not load in full during research; the facts above are drawn from its reporting and Triplett's own public statement, which were verifiable in summary)
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 “Triplett”, 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 (“Triplett”).
Tennessee — statement of interest
- Required for state and local officials and candidates — Tennessee Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Search. Enter last name “Triplett”and, if needed, select the applicable position.