{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JON MATTHEWS","chatgptsummary":"Jon Matthews' biography shows relevant experience as a current Cumberland County School Board member who participated in the 2025 vote to replace the Director of Schools and proposed hiring an interim leader. The record documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate budget literacy or state-required training experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJon Matthews is the 7th District member of the Cumberland County Board of Education, running again for the seat in the August 6, 2026 election [1][4]. He is a resident of Bear Creek Road in the 7th District [3].\n\n## Office history\nMatthews was named the Republican Party's nominee for the 7th District Board of Education vacancy and appeared on the November 2024 ballot for the seat [3].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\nOn January 23, 2025, the Board of Education voted 5-4 against renewing the contract of Director of Schools William Stepp; Matthews was among the five members who voted against renewal, saying teachers felt Stepp was \"inaccessible\" and telling the board, \"they see him there, but they don't have an opportunity to talk to him or have a discussion\" [2]. He later raised the idea of hiring an interim Director of Schools for board discussion [4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Cumberland County Board of Education members](https://www.ccschools.k12tn.net/boardofeducation) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Outrage among parents after Cumberland County school board votes against keeping director \u2014 WATE (via Yahoo News)](https://www.yahoo.com/news/outrage-among-parents-cumberland-county-220710188.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Sole candidate named for 7th District BOE vacancy \u2014 Crossville Chronicle](https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/news/sole-candidate-named-for-7th-district-boe-vacancy/article_ef67031a-71e2-11ef-83c0-a71ca2035413.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[4] [Discussion for interim Director of Schools on BOE agenda \u2014 Crossville Chronicle](https://www.crossville-chronicle.com/news/local_news/discussion-for-interim-director-of-schools-on-boe-agenda-for-april-s-meeting/article_f0ada4ed-a1e7-4f26-b6dc-56e1291b93d1.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"JON","lastname":"MATTHEWS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"SUSHa5qGO0"},"token":"jon_matthews"},{"candidatename":"BLAIR WOODCOCK","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"BLAIR","lastname":"WOODCOCK","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"JjHY6C5lsk"},"token":"blair_woodcock"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_7","officedescription":"A school board member serves on the elected body that governs a public school district. The board sets district policy and budget priorities and hires and evaluates the superintendent, while leaving day-to-day management to the administration.","officequalities":"- Policy judgment for a public school district \u2014 setting direction while leaving day-to-day management to the superintendent.\n- Budget literacy for operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the county commission (which appropriates) and the state.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 the board's highest-stakes recurring decision.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"School Board Member","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"cumberland County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://cumberlandcountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sample-Ballot-Aug-2026.pdf"},"title":"School Board District 7"}