{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Ann Van der Linde","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Ann","lastname":"Linde","middlename":"Van der","suffix":null,"token":"RFbgc6TkkN"},"token":"ann_van_der_linde"},{"candidatename":"Andre' Darnell","chatgptsummary":"Andre' Darnell's biography shows relevant experience as an incumbent school board member with policy judgment skills, budget literacy from supply-chain operations, and constituent relations through community coalitions. He holds a 2024 appointment to the Tennessee School Boards Association board, indicating engagement with required training. Bio does not indicate direct superintendent evaluation or replacement experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nAndre' Darnell is an incumbent Jackson-Madison County School Board member and an independent candidate for School Board District 6 (Position 2) in the August 6, 2026 election.[1][2] His campaign platform emphasizes transparency and collaboration, expanding universal pre-K and technology resources, and academic and workforce-development programs.[1]\n\n## Background and education\nA second-generation Jackson native, Darnell graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School and attended ITT Technical Institute in Memphis; he has pursued a business degree at Lane College and received a 2019\u201320 McWherter Scholars Award.[1][3]\n\n## Career\nDarnell works in supply-chain operations, project management, and procurement.[1]\n\n## Office history and accomplishments\nDarnell represents District 6 (Zone 6) on the school board. He co-founded the I AM JCM Coalition and led a petition drive of more than 3,000 signatures that helped bring the Early College program to the historic Jackson Central-Merry campus.[1][3] In November 2024 he was appointed an at-large member of the Tennessee School Boards Association board of directors.[3]\n\n## Family\nDarnell has been married to his wife, Liakita, for 25 years, and they have three sons; he is active in his church.[1][3]\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Andre' Darnell for School Board \u2014 District 6 Position 2](https://voteandredarnell.com/) \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":"Andre'","lastname":"Darnell","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"chpzC7zIet"},"token":"andre_darnell"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_6","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 6 Position 2"}