{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"MARK FINCHUM","chatgptsummary":"Mark Finchum's thirty-three-year career as a social studies teacher and administrator in Jefferson County demonstrates direct knowledge of district operations and constituent relations. His advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction suggest relevant policy judgment for educational direction. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with budget literacy or the specific authority to hire and evaluate a superintendent.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMark Finchum is a Republican nominee for the Jefferson County Board of Education, District 3, in the August 6, 2026 county general election, which fills two District 3 seats.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nFinchum earned broad-field social studies certification in 1985, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 1989, and a doctorate in social studies education.[2]\n\n## Career\nFinchum spent a 33-year career in Jefferson County education. He began at White Pine School, where he taught Tennessee history, world geography, and American history to seventh and eighth graders for 18 years, then moved to Jefferson County High School, where he taught world geography, world history, and Advanced Placement Human Geography. He retired from Jefferson County Schools in May 2020.[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] [Mark Finchum retires from Jefferson County Schools (Citizen Tribune)](https://www.citizentribune.com/news/local/mark-finchum-retires-from-jefferson-county-schools/article_66136918-caa8-11ea-a477-8fd644bdef95.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"MARK","lastname":"FINCHUM","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"gTKPamquaE"},"token":"mark_finchum"},{"candidatename":"JIM SATTERFIELD","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"JIM","lastname":"SATTERFIELD","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"arBJnS6z3T"},"token":"jim_satterfield"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_3","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 3"}