{"county":"hamilton","description":null,"district":"6","districtgroup":"county_school_board","id":612,"key":"county_school_board_district_6","lastchangeby":null,"name":"Ben Connor","next_election":null,"notes":null,"officegroup":null,"partisan":0,"party":null,"qualities":"- 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.","quantity":1,"source":null,"state":"TN","term_end":"2026-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01","term_years":4,"terms":[{"current":1,"description":null,"electiondate":"2022-08-04","name":"Ben Connor","person":{"biography":"Ben Connor is a Democratic member of the Hamilton County Board of Education in Tennessee, representing District 6 [1]. He assumed office on September 1, 2022, and his current term ends on September 1, 2026 [1]. Connor is running for re-election to this seat in the Democratic primary scheduled for May 5, 2026 [1].\n\nConnor announced his campaign for the District 6 seat in November 2021 as a North Chattanooga resident and parent [10]. He advanced unopposed in the Democratic primary on May 3, 2022, receiving 100% of the vote [1]. In the general election on August 4, 2022, he defeated Republican candidate Jon Baker with 65.4% of the vote (3,755 votes) [1].\n\nA graduate of King University, Connor holds degrees in Communications and Business Administration and previously worked in the restaurant and sales industries [7]. He resides in Chattanooga with his wife, Dr. Shae Connor, and their four daughters [7]. His community involvement includes serving as Chair of the Board of Directors at Northside Learning Center for over four years and volunteering at Normal Park, where he has served as a room parent, coached youth basketball, and helped organize school events [7]. He also serves on the boards of the Women\u2019s Oncology Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and the Nicholas Heart Foundation [7].\n\nDuring his tenure on the School Board, Connor was elected by his colleagues to serve three consecutive terms as Legislative Chair, advocating for rural broadband access and school safety initiatives while reviewing voucher legislation [7]. He currently serves as the board\u2019s Transportation Chair [7]. Locally, he has participated in bipartisan school safety resolutions and system-wide listening sessions that contributed to a long-term facilities plan for Hamilton County Schools [7].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ben Connor - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Connor)\n- [2] [Jon Baker (Tennessee) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jon_Baker_(Tennessee))\n- [3] [Hamilton County School District, Tennessee, elections (2022) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Hamilton_County_School_District,_Tennessee,_elections_(2022))\n- [4] [Tennessee elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_elections,_2026)\n- [5] [Candidate Lists | Tennessee Secretary of State](https://sos.tn.gov/elections/2026-candidate-lists)\n- [6] [Hamilton County, Tennessee - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_County,_Tennessee)\n- [7] [Meet Ben \u2014 Ben Connor - Hamilton County School Board](https://votebenconnor.com/meet-ben)\n- [9] [Schools in District 6 \u2014 Ben Connor - Hamilton County School Board](https://votebenconnor.com/district-6)\n- [10] [North Chattanooga resident Ben Connor announces campaign for school board seat | Chattanooga Times Free Press](https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2021/nov/13/ben-connor-school-board/)\n- [11] [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- [12] [Guide to the 2022 State and Federal Primary + State and County General Election - NOOGAtoday](https://noogatoday.6amcity.com/2022-state-federal-primary-state-county-general-election-chattanooga)","firstname":"Ben","lastname":"Connor","token":"RKeV9dX7NR"},"term_end":"2026-09-01","term_start":"2022-09-01"}],"title":"Hamilton County Schools Board District 6","type":"legislative","url":null,"whenchanged":"2026-04-26 19:41:48"}