{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMark Finchum is a Republican nominee for the Jefferson County Board of Education, District 3, in the August 6, 2026 county general election, which fills two District 3 seats.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nFinchum earned broad-field social studies certification in 1985, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 1989, and a doctorate in social studies education.[2]\n\n## Career\nFinchum spent a 33-year career in Jefferson County education. He began at White Pine School, where he taught Tennessee history, world geography, and American history to seventh and eighth graders for 18 years, then moved to Jefferson County High School, where he taught world geography, world history, and Advanced Placement Human Geography. He retired from Jefferson County Schools in May 2020.[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] [Mark Finchum retires from Jefferson County Schools (Citizen Tribune)](https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/mark-finchum-retires-from-jefferson-county-schools/article_66136918-caa8-11ea-a477-8fd644bdef95.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"School Board District 3"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"MARK","fullname":"MARK FINCHUM","lastname":"FINCHUM","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"School Board District 3","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"School Board District 3","county":"Jefferson","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"School Board District 3","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican nominee for Jefferson County school board District 3; a retired educator who taught 33 years in Jefferson County Schools, including AP Human Geography, before retiring in 2020.","terms":[],"token":"gTKPamquaE"}