{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Claire Spotts","chatgptsummary":"Spotts's background as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former Child Protective Services investigator demonstrates relevant experience in constituent relations with families and community members. Her career includes roles in healthcare and social services but does not indicate prior experience in public school district budgeting or policy judgment for setting educational direction. Bio does not indicate experience in hiring and evaluating a superintendent or completing state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nClaire Spotts is the Democratic nominee for Jackson-Madison County School Board District 4 (Position 1) in the August 6, 2026 election, challenging Republican Harvey Walden.[1][2]\n\n## Background and education\nSpotts earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Master of Social Work from the University of Memphis.[3]\n\n## Career\nSpotts is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and works as a child and family therapist at The Jackson Clinic in Jackson.[3] Her earlier career includes work as an inpatient social worker at West Tennessee Healthcare, a medical social worker, a Child Protective Services investigator for the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, and a transitional-living specialist at Youth Villages.[3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Madison County August 6, 2026 petition candidate list \u2014 Madison County Election Commission](https://madisoncountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17463/Petition-Candidate-List-August-2026) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Madison Area Democratic Women \u2014 \"elect Claire Spotts, School Board District 4\" (Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/MadisonAreaDemocraticWomen/posts/4218627901728732/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Claire Spotts \u2014 professional profile (LinkedIn)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-spotts-17500558/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Claire","lastname":"Spotts","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"hKin0ollHs"},"token":"claire_spotts"},{"candidatename":"Harvey Walden","chatgptsummary":"Harvey Walden's biography shows relevant experience as a current School Board member and chairman, demonstrating familiarity with district policy judgment and constituent relations. His thirty-five years of self-employment in commercial roofing suggest budget literacy for operating and capital budgets. He also has extensive background mentoring youth through scouting and church groups. Bio does not indicate prior experience in hiring or evaluating superintendents or completing state-required annual training.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nHarvey Walden is the Republican nominee for Jackson-Madison County School Board District 4 (Position 1) in the August 6, 2026 election, in a race that includes Democratic candidate Claire Spotts.[1][2] According to his campaign, he serves on the Jackson-Madison County School Board, including as its chairman.[1][3]\n\n## Background and education\nWalden was born and grew up in Haywood County, Tennessee, before moving to Jackson, where he has lived for more than 20 years.[1] He completed EMT training at Jackson State Community College and studied religious studies and business at Pensacola Christian College.[1]\n\n## Career\nWalden has been self-employed for about 35 years and operates a commercial roofing business.[1]\n\n## Family\nWalden and his wife, Darlene, have three children.[1] He served as a Boy Scout scoutmaster for 12 years and has mentored youth through church groups.[1]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [About \u2014 Harvey Walden for School Board](https://www.harveywaldenschoolboard.com/about-4) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Madison County August 6, 2026 petition candidate list \u2014 Madison County Election Commission](https://madisoncountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17463/Petition-Candidate-List-August-2026) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Meet Our School Board \u2014 Jackson-Madison County School System](https://www.jmcss.org/office-of-the-superintendent/meet-our-school-board) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Harvey","lastname":"Walden","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"J7XCGOBB4F"},"token":"harvey_walden"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_4","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":"2026-07-19","title":"madison County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://madisoncountytn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18013"},"title":"School Board District 4, Position 1"}