{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Tanisha Mitchell","chatgptsummary":"Tanisha Mitchell's biography shows active community mentorship and advocacy for students and families in Hardeman County schools, relevant to constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience with district budget literacy or the authority to hire and evaluate a superintendent.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTanisha Mitchell is the Democratic Party nominee for Hardeman County School Board, District 2, Position 3, running against independent incumbent Gene Ross in the August 6, 2026 county general election [1][2]. She announced her candidacy in June 2026, in what she has described as her second campaign for the seat [2].\n\n## Background\nMitchell says she has remained active in Hardeman County schools and the community through mentorship and advocacy for students and families [2]. Her stated priorities include student support, support for teachers, parent engagement, and safe, supportive learning environments [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hardeman County Election Commission \u2014 August 6, 2026 Official Sample Ballot](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH/view) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Tanisha Mitchell Announces Candidacy for School Board District 2, Position 3 (Hatchie Press)](https://hatchiepress.com/tanisha-mitchell-announces-candidacy-for-school-board-district-2-position-3/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Tanisha","lastname":"Mitchell","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"d0V6QGjY8a"},"token":"tanisha_mitchell"},{"candidatename":"Gene Ross","chatgptsummary":"Gene Ross's biography shows incumbent experience on the Hardeman County School Board, relevant to policy judgment and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior budget literacy experience or specific superintendent evaluation experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nGene Ross is the incumbent Hardeman County School Board member for District 2, Position 3, and is seeking re-election as an independent candidate in the August 6, 2026 county general election, against Democratic nominee Tanisha Mitchell [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nRoss currently holds the District 2, Position 3 seat on the Hardeman County School Board [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Hardeman County Election Commission \u2014 August 6, 2026 Official Sample Ballot](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH/view) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Local Election Update: Who Has Pulled a Petition (Hatchie Press)](https://hatchiepress.com/local-election-update-pulled-petitions-how-to-become-candidate-2026/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Gene","lastname":"Ross","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"toXvzYJ8mo"},"token":"gene_ross"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_2_seat_c","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":null,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"hardeman County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1AhunmX4xEaSVTC0sXKimbLDC-E1NLTxH"},"title":"School Board District 2, Position 3"}