{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"JONATHAN YANCEY","chatgptsummary":"Jonathan Yancey's background includes a Master's in education and teaching experience within two Tennessee school districts, demonstrating familiarity with classroom operations and curriculum. His current roles as a faculty manager and business owner suggest capacity for budget literacy and constituent relations. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience in district policy judgment or the authority to hire and evaluate a superintendent.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJonathan Yancey is a Democratic candidate for the Rutherford County Schools board in Zone 7 on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot [1][2]. He faces Republican Julie Wishing in the general election [2].\n\n## Background and education\n\nYancey earned a Bachelor of Science in biology (2005) and a Master's degree in education (2008), both from Austin Peay State University [1].\n\n## Career\n\nYancey's career has centered on science education. He taught in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (2006-2010) and served as a virtual school science teacher for Metro Nashville Public Schools (2016-2018) [1]. Since 2016 he has been a Manager of Instruction Faculty for general-education science at Western Governors University, and since 2021 he has owned Yancey Transport, LLC [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Jonathan Yancey (BallotReady)](https://www.ballotready.org/people/jonathan-yancey) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Rutherford County Schools, Tennessee, elections (2026) (Ballotpedia)](https://ballotpedia.org/Rutherford_County_Schools,_Tennessee,_elections_(2026)) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"JONATHAN","lastname":"YANCEY","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"yWeHt48OvP"},"token":"jonathan_yancey"},{"candidatename":"JULIE WISHING","chatgptsummary":"Julie Wishing's biography shows two decades of community sports leadership and youth program management, including founding a tennis association and coaching state championship teams. These roles demonstrate constituent relations skills and organizational experience relevant to school board duties. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience with public school budgeting or superintendent evaluation.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nJulie Wishing is a Republican candidate for the Rutherford County Schools board in Zone 7 on the August 6, 2026 general-election ballot [1][2]. She won the Zone 7 Republican primary on May 5, 2026, unseating incumbent Frances Rosales with 1,855 votes (60.44%) to Rosales's 1,205 votes (39.26%) [2]. She advances to face Democrat Jonathan Yancey in the general election [2]. Wishing has said she wants to bring \"common sense and professionalism\" to the board and \"consistent, thoughtful conservatism\" to her decisions [2]. After the primary she said: \"I'd like to thank all the people who voted for me and so many people who were supportive.\" [2]\n\n## Career\n\nWishing has been active in community sports and youth programs. About 20 years ago she created the Murfreesboro Tennis Association, which provided instruction, clinics and leagues, a decade-long volunteer effort that contributed to the 32-court Adams Tennis Complex at Old Fort Park [2]. She has served as an assistant tennis coach at Siegel High School, where teams she helped coach won three state championships [2].\n\n## Office history\n\nWishing has served her community as a Girl Scout leader, tennis organizer, and church volunteer [2].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [Rutherford County Schools, Tennessee, elections (2026) (Ballotpedia)](https://ballotpedia.org/Rutherford_County_Schools,_Tennessee,_elections_(2026)) \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":"JULIE","lastname":"WISHING","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Ir4LAELc7G"},"token":"julie_wishing"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_zone_7","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 7"}