{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"DOUG IBBETSON","chatgptsummary":"Doug Ibbetson's biography shows relevant experience as an incumbent Jefferson County Board of Education member and vice chair, demonstrating familiarity with policy judgment and constituent relations. His background in corporate and independent business informs his focus on fiscal responsibility for district budgets. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience in hiring or evaluating a superintendent or completing state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDoug Ibbetson is an incumbent Jefferson County Board of Education member for District 1, where he serves as vice chair, and a Republican nominee for re-election in the August 6, 2026 county general election, which fills two District 1 seats.[1][3] His stated priorities include student achievement, teacher support, keeping education decisions local, electing rather than appointing the director of schools, fiscal responsibility, and financial transparency; he has pledged to limit himself to two consecutive four-year terms.[2]\n\n## Background and education\nIbbetson is a longtime Jefferson County resident who lives in the Indian Creek community; District 1 covers the Dandridge, Chestnut Hill, Indian Creek, Parrots Chapel, Swannsylvania, Oak Grove, Deep Springs, and Piedmont areas.[2] Since moving to the county he has organized the \"Pickin' and Grinnin' Bluegrass Jam\" at Indian Creek, co-founded and taught banjo in the Pee Wee Pickers youth program, and organized \"A Day at the Lake\" for fatherless children.[2]\n\n## Career\nIbbetson has a background in corporate and independent business, which he says informs his focus on fiscal responsibility and financial transparency for the school district.[2]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Sample Ballot, Jefferson County TN, August 6, 2026](https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JCTN_August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Doug Ibbetson Announces Run for Jefferson County District One School Board (The Jefferson County Post)](https://jeffersoncountypost.com/?p=57575) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [School Board (Jefferson County School District)](https://www.jc-tn.net/school-boards) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"DOUG","lastname":"IBBETSON","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"U8QBLjH3lU"},"token":"doug_ibbetson"},{"candidatename":"MICHELLE JINNETTE","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"MICHELLE","lastname":"JINNETTE","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ZZkd5G9jNN"},"token":"michelle_jinnette"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_1","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":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":2,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-19","title":"jefferson County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://jeffersoncountytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JCTN_August-6-2026-Sample-Ballot.pdf"},"title":"School Board District 1"}