{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Micah Chapman","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"Micah Chapman is a Democratic candidate running for election to the Hamilton County Board of Education to represent District 5 in Tennessee [1]. He is competing against Thessela White in the Democratic primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [1]. The district covers the Brainerd and Tyner areas [6]. Chapman resides in Washington Hills and is a lifelong Chattanooga resident [6].\n\nChapman works as the Director of Events and Outreach at The Enterprise Center, where he focuses on digital equity and community engagement [1]. He also serves as the executive pastor of Word Empowerment Church [6]. Professionally, he is a Tennessee-certified public manager and is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership [6].\n\nHis community service includes serving on the Head Start Governing Board, where he provides oversight for early childhood education programs [1]. He has held various leadership roles, including President of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga Young Professionals, Board Chair for the City of Chattanooga Office of Family Empowerment, and Chair of the Washington Hills Community Advisory Committee [1]. Additionally, Chapman mentors young people through Project Ready and TN Achieves [1].\n\nChapman is a father of two daughters who attend Hamilton County schools [6]. He launched his campaign on a platform of \"collaboration over control,\" emphasizing transparency, educator support, and trauma-informed school practices [8]. His policy framework, referred to as the \"5T Plan,\" prioritizes transparency and accountability, support for educators through competitive pay and advisory councils, trauma-informed success via mental health resources, community togetherness, and preparing students for future careers [8].\n\nChapman has completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey for the 2026 election [1]. He participated in a panel discussion hosted by the JFK Luncheon Club alongside other Democratic candidates for the Hamilton County school board [7]. The winner of the Democratic primary is expected to win the general seat, as no Republican or independent candidates have filed to run against him [6].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Micah Chapman](https://ballotpedia.org/Micah_Chapman)\n- [2] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [4] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [5] [2026 Election United States Senate - Tennessee - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/TN/2026/)\n- [6] [School board: Micah Chapman plans to focus on teacher support, trauma-informed schools | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/05/school-board-micah-chapman-plans-to-focus-on/)\n- [7] [Democratic candidates for Hamilton County school board talk teacher retention, community involvement | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/mar/18/democratic-candidates-for-hamilton-county-school/)\n- [8] [Micah Chapman Announces Run For Hamilton County School Board - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/3/3/515542/Micah-Chapman-Announces-Run-For.aspx)\n- [9] [Why I Support Micah Chapman\u2019s Vision For Stronger Schools In District 5 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/12/517263/Why-I-Support-Micah-Chapmans-Vision.aspx)\n- [10] [School board: Thessela White hopes to support teachers, strengthen community partnerships | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/05/school-board-thessela-white-hopes-to-support/)\n- [11] [Times Opinion: Thessela White is the right choice for school board in District 5 | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/12/times-opinion-thessela-white-is-the-right-choice/)\n- [12] [15 candidates vying for five Hamilton County school board seats | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/feb/19/15-candidates-vying-for-five-hamilton-county/)","firstname":"Micah","lastname":"Chapman","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"yabNcmgu6S"},"token":"micah_chapman"},{"candidatename":"Thessela White","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"Thessela White is a Democratic candidate running for the Hamilton County School Board, District 5 seat in Tennessee [7]. The district encompasses the Brainerd and Tyner areas of Chattanooga [7]. White, age 50, resides in North Brainerd and has lived in District 5 for ten years [7]. She works as an account representative at U.S. Xpress, a Chattanooga-based trucking company [7]. White is a graduate of Hixson High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Memphis [8]. She returned to Chattanooga to reinvest in the community that supported her education [8].\n\nWhite announced her candidacy for the May 5, 2026, election, stating she wants to ensure every student has a champion who fights for their future [8]. In the Democratic primary, she faces Micah Chapman of Washington Hills [7]. The winner of this primary is expected to assume office in the fall, as no Republican or independent candidates have filed for the seat [7].\n\nWhite\u2019s campaign priorities include prioritizing student achievement through programs that prepare students for college and careers, supporting and retaining teachers by advocating for competitive compensation and work-life balance, and strengthening school-community partnerships with local organizations and businesses [7]. She identifies budget cuts and staffing as major challenges for Hamilton County Schools, proposing data-driven decision-making and responsible stewardship of resources to address them [7]. Regarding facilities, White plans to review current facility data to prioritize repairs based on urgency and funding, specifically citing roof repairs, drainage issues causing flooded parking lots, and pest concerns as essential problems to fix [7].\n\nWhite cites her qualifications as including six years serving as the state chair for the NAACP ACT-SO program, where she helped students discover talents and build confidence [7]. She also serves as a mentor and ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters [7]. White participated in a panel hosted by the JFK Luncheon Club alongside other Democratic school board candidates to discuss teacher retention and community involvement [10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_gubernatorial_election,_2026)\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 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Tennessee)\n- [5] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [6] [Tennessee Senate Race 2026 | Republican Candidates](https://electrepublicans.org/races/tn/senate/2026/)\n- [7] [School board: Thessela White hopes to support teachers, strengthen community partnerships | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/05/school-board-thessela-white-hopes-to-support/)\n- [8] [Thessela White Announces Run For Hamilton County School Board District 5 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/2/27/515356/Thessela-White-Announces-Run-For.aspx)\n- [9] [Times Opinion: Thessela White is the right choice for school board in District 5 | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/12/times-opinion-thessela-white-is-the-right-choice/)\n- [10] [Democratic candidates for Hamilton County school board talk teacher retention, community involvement | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/mar/18/democratic-candidates-for-hamilton-county-school/)\n- [11] [15 candidates vying for five Hamilton County school board seats | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/feb/19/15-candidates-vying-for-five-hamilton-county/)\n- [12] [School board: Micah Chapman plans to focus on teacher support, trauma-informed schools | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/05/school-board-micah-chapman-plans-to-focus-on/)","firstname":"Thessela","lastname":"White","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"YwBPt3jqcU"},"token":"thessela_white"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"5","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"County School Board","districtname":"District 5","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_district_5","office":"county_school_board_district_5","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 on a large urban district \u2014 Memphis-Shelby County Schools serves roughly 110,000 students across more than 200 schools, with a budget over a billion dollars.\n- Budget literacy for both operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the County Commission (which appropriates) and the Tennessee Department of Education.\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent \u2014 historically the highest-stakes recurring decision the board makes.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, principals, and community members across an economically and racially diverse district.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 5","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County School Board District 5"}