{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Betty J. Duggan","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"Betty J. Duggan is a Democratic candidate running for the Hamilton County Board of Education, District 8 seat in Tennessee [6]. She resides in the Concord neighborhood and moved to District 8 two years prior to her announcement after living in Hamilton County for more than 25 years [6]. The district covers the East Ridge area [6]. Duggan is facing Katie Perkins in the Democratic primary on May 5, 2026, with the winner advancing to the general election on August 6, 2026 [6]. The seat is currently held by Republican Larry Grohn, who is not seeking re-election [6].\n\nDuggan holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Tennessee and has had a diverse career as an anthropology professor, museum curator, and teacher [6], [8]. Before retiring from her academic roles, she worked extensively with Appalachian, Native American, African American, and Hispanic communities [6]. She is a graduate of Apison Elementary and Ooltewah High School [6]. In recent years, Duggan has remained active in education by teaching reading at Hamilton County elementary schools, including East Ridge Elementary, as well as at a local charter school and a YMCA after-school program [6], [8]. She has also served as a substitute teacher in a dozen K-12 schools within the county, including four located in District 8 [6].\n\nDuggan announced her campaign on February 18, 2026, citing a commitment to strengthening public education and prioritizing students [8]. Her platform focuses on six priority areas: supporting teachers, improving school facilities, decreasing testing, increasing classroom funding, expanding student opportunities, and fostering cross-county collaboration [6], [8]. Specifically, she advocates for livable salary increases for teachers and meaningful input into curriculum development [6]. She also emphasizes the need to keep public education dollars in public schools and maintain local control over school decisions, arguing that choices should not be unduly influenced by national politics [6]. Duggan identifies improving facilities as a critical need, noting issues such as inadequate bathroom capacity and security concerns in some District 8 schools [6].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_gubernatorial_election,_2026)\n- [3] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [5] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [6] [School board: Veteran educator Betty Duggan hopes to support teachers, improve facilities | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/07/school-board-veteran-educator-betty-duggan-hopes/)\n- [7] [Times Opinion: To fight off the far right, pick Betty Duggan for the Hamilton County Board of Education | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/12/times-opinion-to-fight-off-the-far-right-pick/)\n- [8] [Betty Duggan Announces Campaign For Hamilton County School Board, District 8 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/2/18/514914/Betty-Duggan-Announces-Campaign-For.aspx)\n- [9] [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- [10] [Betty Duggan Announces Campaign For Hamilton County School Board, District 8 http://dlvr.it/TR1xsf](https://www.facebook.com/TheChattanoogan/posts/betty-duggan-announces-campaign-for-hamilton-county-school-board-district-8httpd/1484090653719840/)\n- [11] [School board: Community volunteer Katie Perkins plans to push for collaboration, outdoor learning | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/07/school-board-community-volunteer-katie-perkins/)\n- [12] [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/)","firstname":"Betty","lastname":"Duggan","middlename":"J.","suffix":null,"token":"7umGs0JCz5"},"token":"betty_j_duggan"},{"candidatename":"Sabrina Daniel","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Sabrina Daniel is a Republican candidate seeking election to the Hamilton County School Board, District 8, in the August 6, 2026 general election [11]. She is currently running in the Republican primary against Sterling DuPr\u00e9 [7]. The District 8 seat represents the East Ridge area of Hamilton County [7]. Incumbent Larry Grohn is not seeking reelection to this position [7].\n\nDaniel, age 69, is a resident of East Ridge who has lived in District 8 for 15 years [7]. She describes herself as a born-again Christian and conservative Republican [7]. Her professional background includes 17 years of classroom teaching experience and administrative roles within the public school system [7], [9]. She holds a degree in Education [10].\n\nIn her campaign, Daniel has identified parental involvement as a key priority [7]. Her stated platform focuses on character education, classroom management, and reading literacy [7]. She has also expressed concerns regarding school safety, mental health resources, and the hiring of teachers [7]. Regarding fiscal policy, Daniel advocates for a line-item budget review to identify areas for trimming costs without affecting student services, emphasizing that students and teachers should be prioritized [7].\n\nFacilities are another area of focus for her campaign. She specifically aims to address overcrowding at Spring Creek Elementary by removing portable classrooms, potentially replacing them with a new school or adding to the existing structure if space allows [7]. Daniel has indicated she would work with Vice Chair Gary Kuehn on facilities issues and supports teacher housing initiatives, though she opposes locating such housing at the St. Elmo property due to traffic concerns [7].\n\nSupporters of Daniel include Mark Hopwood, who highlighted her firsthand teaching experience and active participation in board meetings [8], and Wade Lenz, who praised her commitment to conservative policies based on firm principles and her focus on empowering teachers and increasing literacy [9]. Another supporter noted her devotion to equipping children with universal learning foundations [10].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [3] [Candidate Information | Williamson County, TN - Official Site](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/1743/Candidate-Information)\n- [4] [2026 Election United States Senate - Tennessee - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/senate/TN/2026/)\n- [5] [2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 05 - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/05/2026/)\n- [6] [2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 07 - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/07/2026/)\n- [7] [School board: Sabrina Daniel hopes to promote parental involvement, look at budget | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/08/school-board-sabrina-daniel-hopes-to-promote/)\n- [8] [In Support Of Sabrina Daniel, District 8, School Board Election - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/22/517786/In-Support-Of-Sabrina-Daniel-District.aspx)\n- [9] [Sabrina Daniel Letter Of Support - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/13/517313/Sabrina-Daniel-Letter-Of-Support.aspx)\n- [10] [Backing Sabrina Daniel In District 8 - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2026/4/17/517529/Backing-Sabrina-Daniel-In-District-8.aspx)\n- [11] [Register by April 6 to vote in the Hamilton Co. primary | Local News | local3news.com](https://www.local3news.com/local-news/hamilton-co-voter-registration-deadline-for-primary-elections-is-april-6/article_9e6dda05-83ca-4ddb-85e7-fdb746b4c855.html)","firstname":"Sabrina","lastname":"Daniel","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"wk5mLQ0j9i"},"token":"sabrina_daniel"},{"candidatename":"Katie Perkins","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKatie Perkins won the Democratic primary for the Hamilton County Schools District 8 seat on May 5, 2026, defeating Betty Duggan of Concord, 492 votes to 364 [1]. She advances to face Republican nominee Sabrina Daniel - a retired teacher and administrator who defeated Sterling DuPre in the Republican primary, 384 votes to 292 - in the August 6, 2026 general election for the seat held by outgoing incumbent Republican Larry Grohn [1][2]. Perkins previously ran for the seat in 2022, winning the Democratic primary with 63.9% of the vote before losing the general election to Grohn, 53.5% to 46.5% [3].\n\n## Background and education\nPerkins is a fourth-generation East Ridge native and has lived in East Ridge for 13 years [3][4]. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a master's degree in art education, and teaches in the art department at Dalton State College and Covenant College [1][4]. She is a mother of three [3].\n\n## Career\nPerkins is a college art instructor and community volunteer; she coaches sports through East Ridge Parks and Recreation and Camp Jordan, serves on the East Ridge Library Board, and is a member of Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd [3][4].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Voters choose White for Hamilton County school board. Kuehn, Daniel, Perkins advance to general - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/may/05/voters-choose-white-for-hamilton-county-school/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [School board: Sabrina Daniel hopes to promote parental involvement, look at budget - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/08/school-board-sabrina-daniel-hopes-to-promote/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [East Ridge teacher Katie Perkins runs for District 8 seat on Hamilton County school board - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2022/mar/15/katie-perkins/565114/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[4] [School board: Community volunteer Katie Perkins plans to push for collaboration, outdoor learning - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/07/school-board-community-volunteer-katie-perkins/) - accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"Katie","lastname":"Perkins","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"fYad3flYLE"},"token":"katie_perkins"},{"candidatename":"Sterling DuPre'","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Sterling DuPr\u00e9 is a Republican candidate running for Hamilton County School Board District 8 in the 2026 election cycle [9]. The district covers the East Ridge area of Hamilton County, Tennessee [10]. DuPr\u00e9, who is 31 years old, moved to East Ridge five years prior to the 2026 election after growing up in Hamilton and Dade counties [10]. He works as a news analyst for the Patriot Post, described as a conservative media outlet [10]. In the Republican primary, DuPr\u00e9 faces challenger Sabrina Daniel of East Ridge [10]. The winner of the August 6, 2026, primary will advance to the general election on November 3, 2026, to face the victor of the Democratic primary [10]. The incumbent for District 8 is Larry Grohn, a Republican from East Ridge who is not seeking reelection [10].\n\nDuPr\u00e9\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes fiscal responsibility, proactive engagement with school curriculum, and maintaining a disciplined learning environment [9]. He has stated that his priorities include ensuring a balanced budget and avoiding the waste of taxpayer dollars [10]. Regarding curriculum, DuPr\u00e9 expressed concern over books assigned in classrooms that parents found inappropriate, citing an incident involving \"The Kite Runner\" at a December school board meeting as an example of material he believes does not belong in schools [10]. He also identified the influx of non-English speakers in the district as a significant challenge, advocating for increased support for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to help students master English as a common language [10]. On facilities, DuPr\u00e9 criticized centralized control over school infrastructure, such as air conditioning systems, and supported ongoing maintenance cycles like lighting replacements [10].\n\nDuPr\u00e9\u2019s qualifications for the office are described by him as his civic duty and willingness to engage with the community through door-knocking and signage [10]. He noted that 25 people signed his application to appear on the ballot [10]. His campaign maintains a website at voteforsterling.com and social media presence on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @ElectDuPre [9]. Donations can be sent to his campaign address in East Ridge, Tennessee [9].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [2] [Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_gubernatorial_election,_2026)\n- [3] [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] [2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 07 - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/07/2026/)\n- [7] [2026 Election United States House - Tennessee - District 05 - FEC.gov](https://www.fec.gov/data/elections/house/TN/05/2026/)\n- [8] [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- [9] [Campaign to Elect Sterling DuPr\u00e9 \u2013 Set a Sterling Standard for our Schools](https://voteforsterling.com/)\n- [10] [School board: Sterling DuPr\u00e9 wants to promote fiscal responsibility, examine curriculum | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/08/school-board-sterling-dupre-wants-to-promote/)\n- [12] [Tennessee's 2026 candidate lists finalized for state and federal races \u2022 Tennessee Lookout](https://tennesseelookout.com/briefs/tennessees-2026-candidate-lists-finalized-for-state-and-federal-races/)","firstname":"Sterling","lastname":"DuPre'","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"lAS64LATBi"},"token":"sterling_dupre"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"8","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"County School Board","districtname":"District 8","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_district_8","office":"county_school_board_district_8","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 8","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County School Board District 8"}