{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Matthew Adkins","chatgptsummary":"Matthew Adkins' biography shows current service on the Lewis County school board since October 2024, demonstrating direct experience with policy judgment and constituent relations required for this role. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate prior budget literacy or specific superintendent evaluation experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMatthew Adkins is a candidate for the Lewis County school board, District 5, in the 2026 general election.[1] He was sworn in as a school board member in October 2024 and was still serving on the board as of January 2025.[1][2]\n\n## Sources\n[1] Lewis County Herald \u2014 \"Board of Education swears in new board members,\" Oct. 3, 2024: https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2024/10/03/education/board-of-education-swears-in-new-board-members/8801.html\n[2] Lewis County Herald \u2014 \"Lewis County School Board Recognized for School Board Appreciation Week,\" Jan. 30, 2025: https://www.lewisherald.com/story/2025/01/30/education/lewis-county-school-board-recognized-for-school-board-appreciation-week/9519.html\n","firstname":"Matthew","lastname":"Adkins","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"NKSEib5UqB"},"token":"matthew_adkins"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_5","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":1,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-21","title":"Lewis County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/43a9b6a0-68b8-4a56-8e2b-8e3f105bb3c0/downloads/4c230121-10f0-4430-9d5d-d63036aca5f2/August%206%202026%20Sample%20Ballot.pdf?ver=1784387482222"},"title":"School Board District 5"}