{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"KATIE DARBY","chatgptsummary":"Katie Darby's biography shows four years of service on the Rutherford County Schools board, demonstrating direct experience with policy judgment and constituent relations. She has participated in board elections and internal nominations without documented controversy or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy or formal training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nKatie Darby is the Republican incumbent for the Rutherford County Schools board in Zone 4, running for re-election on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot [1][2]. She won her 2026 Republican primary on May 5, 2026 with 1,693 votes (55.34%), defeating challenger Clarissa Smith, who received 1,314 votes (42.96%); she was the only incumbent board member on the ballot to retain her seat in that primary [2]. She advances to face Democrat Brian Hall and independent Dayna Nichols in the general election [2]. After the primary she said: \"I am grateful. Grateful to the voters of Rutherford County for continuing to place their trust in me.\" [2] On her campaign materials she describes herself as \"a concerned parent striving to create better communication among parents, teachers, & educators\" [1].\n\n## Office history\n\nDarby assumed office representing Zone 4 on September 1, 2022 [1]. She won the seat in the August 4, 2022 general election after defeating incumbent Tiffany Johnson in the May 3, 2022 Republican primary [1]. She was later nominated by fellow board member Caleb Tidwell in a vote for board chair, from which she abstained [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Katie Darby (Ballotpedia)](https://ballotpedia.org/Katie_Darby) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [2 of 3 incumbents lose in Rutherford County School Board primaries (AOL/Daily News Journal)](https://www.aol.com/articles/2-3-incumbents-lose-rutherford-100212510.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"KATIE","lastname":"DARBY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"CR3MEDfbCr"},"token":"katie_darby"},{"candidatename":"BRIAN HALL","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"BRIAN","lastname":"HALL","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Xop5qL62qN"},"token":"brian_hall"},{"candidatename":"DAYNA NICHOLS","chatgptsummary":"Dayna Nichols's biography shows current experience as a school principal, demonstrating direct knowledge of district operations and constituent relations with staff and parents. The record contains no mention of controversy or disciplinary history. Bio does not indicate experience in budget literacy for capital projects or policy judgment regarding county commission coordination.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nDayna Nichols is an independent candidate for the Rutherford County Schools board in Zone 4 on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot [1]. She faces Republican incumbent Katie Darby and Democrat Brian Hall in the general election [1].\n\n## Career\n\nNichols is the principal of Rockvale Elementary School in Rutherford County and has said she plans to retire [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [2 of 3 incumbents lose in Rutherford County School Board primaries (AOL/Daily News Journal)](https://www.aol.com/articles/2-3-incumbents-lose-rutherford-100212510.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"DAYNA","lastname":"NICHOLS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"T7zKMVLiP9"},"token":"dayna_nichols"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_zone_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":"rutherford County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/uploads/dm/79850/Sample_Ballot_Rutherford_County_General_Aug_2026.pdf"},"title":"School Board Zone 4"}