{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Jordan Hammond","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nJordan Hammond, 27, is the Democratic candidate for the Hamilton County Schools District 9 seat, representing the Harrison and Birchwood areas [1]. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and advances to face incumbent Republican Vice Chair Gary Kuehn - who defeated challenger James Walker in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary, 1,126 votes to 926 - in the August 6, 2026 general election [1][2]. As of April 10, 2026, campaign finance disclosures showed Hammond had raised $745 [2].\n\n## Background and education\nHammond is originally from McMinnville, Tennessee, and moved to the Chattanooga area about four years ago to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga [1].\n\n## Career\nHammond works as a controls engineer for eSpin Technologies, a Chattanooga-based air filtration manufacturer [1]. In discussing his candidacy, he has said his engineering background gives him a \"neutral and fact-based\" approach to board decisions [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Jordan Hammond wants to bring support for teachers, academic focus to Harrison area's Hamilton County school board seat - Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jul/04/jordan-hammond-wants-to-bring-support-for/) - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [Hamilton County school board candidates have raised more than $60k - Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/13/hamilton-county-school-board-candidates-have/) - accessed 2026-07-06","firstname":"Jordan","lastname":"Hammond","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"zXhUJnz7eY"},"token":"jordan_hammond"},{"candidatename":"James B. Walker","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"James Walker is a Republican candidate running for election to the Hamilton County Board of Education to represent District 9 in Tennessee [1]. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [1]. Walker previously served as a member of the Hamilton County Board of Education, also representing District 9 [1]. He assumed office on August 4, 2021, after being appointed to the seat by the Hamilton County Commission following the departure of Steve Highlander [12]. Walker left office on September 1, 2022 [1]. In the May 3, 2022 Republican primary for the same district, Walker received 38.2% of the vote (1,515 votes) before losing to incumbent Gary Kuehn, who won with 46.8% of the vote [1]. Walker is 59 years old and seeks to represent the Harrison and Birchwood areas of the county [12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [James Walker (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker_(Tennessee))\n- [2] [James Walker - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker)\n- [3] [James Walker (Mississippi) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker_(Mississippi))\n- [4] [James Walker (Comal Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Texas, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker_(Comal_Justice_of_the_Peace_Precinct_2,_Texas,_candidate_2022))\n- [5] [James Walker (Vermillion County Council, District 3, Indiana, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker_(Vermillion_County_Council,_District_3,_Indiana,_candidate_2022))\n- [6] [James Walker (Comal County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Texas, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_Walker_(Comal_County_Justice_of_the_Peace_Precinct_2,_Texas,_candidate_2026))\n- [7] [James D. Walker (Georgia) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/James_D._Walker_(Georgia))\n- [8] [Walker v. United States - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Walker_v._United_States)\n- [9] [Robert Walker - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_Walker)\n- [10] [Hamilton County School District, Tennessee, elections (2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Hamilton_County_School_District,_Tennessee,_elections_(2022))\n- [12] [James Walker to run for Hamilton County school board again | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/dec/03/james-walker-to-run-for-hamilton-county-school/)","firstname":"James","lastname":"Walker","middlename":"B.","suffix":null,"token":"RVimoKHSuX"},"token":"james_b_walker"},{"candidatename":"Gary Kuehn","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"Gary Kuehn is a Republican member of the Hamilton County Board of Education in Tennessee, representing District 9 [1]. He assumed office on September 1, 2022, and his current term ends on September 1, 2026 [1]. Kuehn is running for re-election to this seat in the Republican primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [1]. In that primary, he faces incumbent challenger James Walker [1]. The winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Jordan Hammond in the general election on August 6, 2026 [1].\n\nKuehn, who is 67 years old and resides in Ooltewah, spent nearly 40 years as a teacher and administrator in Hamilton County Schools before retiring [4]. He has lived in District 9 for 49 years and has four children [4]. His administrative career included serving as an assistant principal and instructional leader at Central High School, principal of Hunter Middle School, principal of Harrison Bay Vocational School, and principal of the Hamilton County Adult High School [7]. Prior to his election to the board, he was a science teacher at Central High School [8].\n\nKuehn was first elected to the school board in 2022 after defeating incumbent James Walker and Tate Smith in the Republican primary with 46.8% of the vote [1]. He subsequently won the general election on August 4, 2022, receiving all votes cast in that contest [1]. During his tenure, he has served as Vice Chair of the board and Chairman of the Facility Committee for the past two years [4]. His campaign highlights include bringing the Aviation Academy to the Harrison Bay Future Ready Center, supporting turf fields and updated lighting for sports facilities, voting to reduce benchmark testing, and leading efforts to paint Central High School [7].\n\nKuehn\u2019s 2026 campaign priorities include creating balanced budgets without raising taxpayer dollars, expanding Future Ready opportunities and centers, reducing student testing time, and finding non-monetary ways to show teachers they are valued [4]. He identifies the high number of private schools in the area as the largest challenge facing Hamilton County Schools, arguing that his focus on school choice options like Future Ready centers and magnet schools helps retain students [4].\n\nIn October 2022, Kuehn was arrested on a charge of indecent exposure related to an incident at a doctor's office in August 2017 [8]. The charges were dismissed in January 2023 because the arrest warrant had expired [6].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Gary Kuehn - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Gary_Kuehn)\n- [2] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [3] [2026 Tennessee gubernatorial election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tennessee_gubernatorial_election)\n- [4] [School board: Incumbent Gary Kuehn wants more technical education, balanced budgets | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/10/school-board-incumbent-gary-kuehn-wants-more/)\n- [5] [Gary Kuehn seeks second term on Hamilton County school board | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/dec/03/gary-kuehn-seeks-second-term-on-hamilton-county/)\n- [6] [Hamilton County Board of Education member has indecent exposure case dismissed | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/jan/10/kuehn-court/)\n- [7] [Gary Kuehn Seeks Re-Election To District 9 County School Board Seat - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/12/2/511981/Gary-Kuehn-Seeks-Re-Election-To.aspx)\n- [8] [School Board Member Arrested On Indecent Exposure Charge; Update Given On 5-Year-Old Warrant - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2022/10/24/458112/School-Board-Member-Arrested-On.aspx)\n- [9] [Gary Kuehn Is A Great Choice For District 9 School Board - Chattanoogan.com](https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/7/20/431605/Gary-Kuehn-Is-A-Great-Choice-For.aspx)\n- [10] [School board: Challenger James Walker hopes to promote transparency, be \u2018voice\u2019 for district | Chattanooga Times Free Press](http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/10/school-board-challenger-james-walker-hopes-to/)\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] [2026 Chattanooga area elections news | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026elections/)","firstname":"Gary","lastname":"Kuehn","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"tRPlArEJTb"},"token":"gary_kuehn"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":"9","districtgroup":"county_school_board","districtgroupname":"County School Board","districtname":"District 9","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"county_school_board_district_9","office":"county_school_board_district_9","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 9","partisan":1,"pgr":"primary","quantity":null,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"County School Board District 9"}