{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDoug Ibbetson is an incumbent Jefferson County Board of Education member for District 1, where he serves as vice chair, and a Republican nominee for re-election in the August 6, 2026 county general election, which fills two District 1 seats.[1][3] His stated priorities include student achievement, teacher support, keeping education decisions local, electing rather than appointing the director of schools, fiscal responsibility, and financial transparency; he has pledged to limit himself to two consecutive four-year terms.[2]\n\n## Background and education\nIbbetson is a longtime Jefferson County resident who lives in the Indian Creek community; District 1 covers the Dandridge, Chestnut Hill, Indian Creek, Parrots Chapel, Swannsylvania, Oak Grove, Deep Springs, and Piedmont areas.[2] Since moving to the county he has organized the \"Pickin' and Grinnin' Bluegrass Jam\" at Indian Creek, co-founded and taught banjo in the Pee Wee Pickers youth program, and organized \"A Day at the Lake\" for fatherless children.[2]\n\n## Career\nIbbetson has a background in corporate and independent business, which he says informs his focus on fiscal responsibility and financial transparency for the school district.[2]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Sample Ballot, Jefferson County TN, August 6, 2026](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JCTN_August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Doug Ibbetson Announces Run for Jefferson County District One School Board (The Jefferson County Post)](https://jeffersoncountypost.com/?p=57575) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [School Board (Jefferson County School District)](https://www.jc-tn.net/school-boards) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_1","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"School Board District 1"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"DOUG","fullname":"DOUG IBBETSON","lastname":"IBBETSON","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_1","contest_title":"School Board District 1","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_1","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_1","contest_title":"School Board District 1","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_1","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_district_1","office_title":"School Board District 1","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Republican Jefferson County school board member and vice chair for District 1, running for re-election; a businessman and Indian Creek community volunteer.","terms":[],"token":"U8QBLjH3lU"}