{"biography":"Ruth Walker is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Hamilton County Board of Education to represent District 3 in Tennessee [1]. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary scheduled for May 5, 2026, with the general election set for August 6, 2026 [1]. Walker identifies professionally as an educator, psychologist, and mother [7]. Her campaign website states she has over 15 years of experience in education and aims to advocate for students, teachers, and families within Hamilton County Schools [7]. She describes her priorities as listening, learning, and collaborating with the community to address concerns and hopes for the schools [7]. Walker is affiliated with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), where she is listed in the psychology department directory [12]. Her professional email address is drruthwalker@utc.edu [1]. She has established a campaign website at www.walkerfordistrict3.com, which outlines her platform and provides information on District 3 schools, including Big Ridge Elementary, DuPont Elementary, Hixson Elementary, McConnell Elementary, Middle Valley Elementary, Hixson Middle, Loftis Middle, and Hixson High [7]. Walker has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey [1].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ruth Walker](https://ballotpedia.org/Ruth_Walker)\n- [2] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [3] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [4] [2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 05 - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/05/2026/)\n- [5] [Candidate Information | Williamson County, TN - Official Site](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/1743/Candidate-Information)\n- [6] [2026 Election United States Senate - Tennessee - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/TN/2026/)\n- [7] [Ruth Walker for School Board District 3](https://www.walkerfordistrict3.com/)\n- [8] [Community Voice: Money talks, and it says invest in our Hamilton County public schools | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/25/community-voice-money-talks-and-it-says-invest-in/)\n- [11] [AFSCME Retirees: Ruth Walker | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)](https://www.afscme.org/blog/afscme-retirees-ruth-walker)\n- [12] [ptd539-Psychology-Ruth Walker | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga](https://www.utc.edu/directory/ptd539-psychology-ruth-walker/ptd539)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"primary","state":"TN","title":"County School Board District 3"}],"cf_filings":[{"county":"hamilton","displayname":"Walker, Ruth","documents":[{"datesubmitted":"04/28/26","documentid":"74CFDFC3-A6B0-4C5E-82E1-8B5D38003492","documentname":"Pre-Primary 2026","documentnameid":["74CFDFC3-A6B0-4C5E-82E1-8B5D38003492","Pre-Primary 2026"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"04/10/26","documentid":"6FC3E06B-896F-4411-B7EF-B6F068EA7251","documentname":"1st Qtr 2026","documentnameid":["6FC3E06B-896F-4411-B7EF-B6F068EA7251","1st Qtr 2026"],"documenttype":"Campaign Financial Disclosure","electionname":null},{"datesubmitted":"02/12/26","documentid":"A6478B30-74E0-4E86-A963-54CDFF152CC2","documentname":"Appt of Treasurer 2026","documentnameid":["A6478B30-74E0-4E86-A963-54CDFF152CC2","Appt of Treasurer 2026"],"documenttype":"Appointment of Political Treasurer","electionname":null}],"filertype":"Candidate","officename":"County School Board Dist. 3","source_customer_id":"0F5A08EE-617A-4B11-AD30-E963AE98E120","source_filer_id":"66023BC9-49CF-4A01-ABF3-3E9F4315EF16","source_system":"easyvote","state":"TN","status":"Active"}],"firstname":"Ruth","fullname":"Ruth Walker","lastname":"Walker","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"County School Board District 3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"}],"county":"hamilton","cycles":[{"general":null,"party":"D","primary":{"contest":"county_school_board_district_3","contest_title":"County School Board District 3","county":"Hamilton","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-05-05","office_county":"hamilton","office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","party":"D","pgr":"primary","state":"TN"},"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_school_board_district_3","office_title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 3","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Ruth Walker is a Democratic candidate for Hamilton County School Board District 3, citing over 15 years of education experience and an affiliation with UTC.","terms":[],"token":"gtv0NzgKDK"}