{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Mark Matthews","chatgptsummary":"Mark Matthews' biography shows incumbent experience on the Oneida Special School District Board of Education, demonstrating familiarity with policy judgment and constituent relations required for the role. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy experience or evidence of completing state-required annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nMark Matthews is an incumbent member of the Oneida Special School District Board of Education seeking re-election on August 6, 2026, in a race for three of the board's five seats [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nMatthews serves on the five-member Oneida Special School District board, whose members are elected by district voters to staggered four-year terms [2][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [2026 Scott County General Election - The Encyclopedia of Scott County](https://ihoneida.com/knowledge-base/2026-scott-county-general-election/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Board of Education - Oneida Special School District](https://oneidaschools.org/board-of-education) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Oneida Special School District - The Encyclopedia of Scott County](https://ihoneida.com/knowledge-base/oneida-special-school-district/) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Mark","lastname":"Matthews","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"7oTOSjTAbL"},"token":"mark_matthews"},{"candidatename":"Kevin Byrd","chatgptsummary":"Kevin Byrd's biography shows incumbent experience on the Oneida Special School District Board of Education, including policy judgment regarding staffing cuts and constituent relations during a contentious June 2026 meeting. The record documents no controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate budget literacy for operating and capital budgets or specific experience in hiring and evaluating the superintendent.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKevin Byrd is an incumbent member of the Oneida Special School District Board of Education seeking re-election on August 6, 2026 [1][2]. Three of the five board seats are on the ballot; Byrd and fellow incumbent Mark Matthews (I) run alongside challengers Benji Jacobs (I) and Stuart Jones (R) [1].\n\n## Office history and record\nAt a June 2026 board meeting marked by community frustration over district staffing cuts, Byrd pressed the district on how affected employees had been notified and raised concerns about employees who had received separation letters [3]. He has said a strong school is built on investing in strong staff [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [2026 Scott County General Election - The Encyclopedia of Scott County](https://ihoneida.com/knowledge-base/2026-scott-county-general-election/) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Board of Education - Oneida Special School District](https://oneidaschools.org/board-of-education) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Oneida School Board Meeting Gets Raucous - Scott County News](https://scnoneida.net/2026/06/09/oneida-school-board-meeting-gets-raucous/) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Kevin","lastname":"Byrd","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"h2QGM2L7d4"},"token":"kevin_byrd"},{"candidatename":"Stuart Jones","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Stuart","lastname":"Jones","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"69zIkQKr8G"},"token":"stuart_jones"},{"candidatename":"Benji Jacobs","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"Benji","lastname":"Jacobs","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"7rStstEVNJ"},"token":"benji_jacobs"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"oneida_special_school_district","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":3,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-22","title":"Scott County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.votescotttn.gov/voter-information"},"title":"Oneida Special School District"}