{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Laura Harrison","chatgptsummary":"Laura Harrison's biography shows extensive tenure as the only continuously serving Lakeland School Board member since the system's founding and current board chair, demonstrating familiarity with district policy and constituent relations. The record contains no mention of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience in budget literacy for operating and capital funds or specific training through the Tennessee School Boards Association Academy.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nLaura Harrison currently serves as the chair of the Lakeland School Board [1]. She is a candidate in the 2026 election for the Lakeland School Board [1]. The board represents the Lakeland School System [1].\n\nHarrison has been recognized as the only continuously serving school board member since the system's founding [1].\n\n## Background and education\n\nLaura Harrison is the only continuously serving school board member since the Lakeland School System was founded [1]. The provided sources do not contain information regarding her birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, specific schools attended, or degrees earned.\n\n## Office history\n\nLaura Harrison is the only continuously serving school board member since the Lakeland School System was founded [1]. She currently serves as the Board Chair [1]. The provided sources do not specify the exact years she was elected or appointed to these roles, nor do they detail specific term lengths, districts, or key responsibilities beyond her current title. Additionally, no information regarding races run but lost is available in the provided materials.\n\n## Family\n\nLaura Harrison self-describes herself as \"ScottandLaura Harrison\" on social media, indicating her marital status [1]. She is noted as the only continuously serving school board member since the Lakeland School System was founded [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Lakeland school system's longest serving board member - Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lakelandk12/posts/current-board-chair-laura-harrison-is-the-only-continuously-serving-school-board/946957697477756/)","firstname":"Laura","lastname":"Harrison","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"ANochajuqb"},"token":"laura_harrison"},{"candidatename":"Sara Castellaw","chatgptsummary":"Sara Castellaw's biography confirms her filing for the Lakeland Municipal School Board in Shelby County, Tennessee, on February 24, 2026. The record contains no mention of prior controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience with budget literacy, superintendent evaluation, or state-mandated training through the Tennessee School Boards Association.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nSara Castellaw is a Republican candidate for the Lakeland Municipal School Board in Lakeland, Shelby County, Tennessee. She filed her candidacy petition with sufficient signatures on February 24, 2026.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Petitions Issued and Filed \u2013 Shelby County Elections Commission](https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Petitioins-Issued-and-Filed-as-of-Noon-on-March-6-2026.pdf)","firstname":"Sara","lastname":"Castellaw","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"qWXfmuCyO8"},"token":"sara_castellaw"},{"candidatename":"Keith Acton","chatgptsummary":"Keith Acton's background includes a finance degree and decades in property management, offering budget literacy for operating and capital budgets alongside superintendent evaluation skills. His current board service and prior roles on city development boards demonstrate policy judgment and constituent relations within Lakeland. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience completing the state-required seven hours of annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Academy.","notes":"","party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKeith Acton is a current member of the Lakeland School System Board of Education and a Republican candidate on the August 6, 2026 City of Lakeland municipal primary ballot for the school board [1][2]. Other Republican candidates certified for the Lakeland school board in 2026 include Laura Harrison and Sara Castellaw [2].\n\n## Background and education\nActon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and a Master of Science with a concentration in real estate development, both from the University of Memphis [1].\n\n## Career\nActon has worked in multifamily property management since 1996 and leads a local property-management company that oversees communities nationwide [1].\n\n## Office history\nHe serves as a member of the Lakeland School System Board of Education [1]. He has previously served on the City of Lakeland's Industrial Development Board and Economic Development Commission [1].\n\n## Family\nActon and his wife, Stephanie, have been married since 1998 and have four children, two of whom are enrolled in the Lakeland School System; he coaches his children's soccer and basketball teams [1].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Board - Lakeland School System](https://www.lakelandk12.org/board) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Candidates Certified for August 6, 2026 Primary and General Election - Shelby County Election Commission](https://electionsshelbytn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Candidates-Certified-for-August-6-2026-Primary-and-General-Election-33026.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"Keith","lastname":"Acton","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"5L2VRFRoVk"},"token":"keith_acton"}],"choices":null,"description":"","district":"lakeland","districtgroup":"municipality","districtgroupname":"Municipality","districtname":"Lakeland","job_type":"school_board","o.office":"lakeland_school_board","office":"lakeland_school_board","officedescription":"Members of the Lakeland School System school board govern the Lakeland School System municipal school district, separate from Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Five members are elected to staggered four-year terms. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts district policies, approves the budget, sets district goals, and oversees compliance with federal and state education law. Members are required to complete seven hours of training annually through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.\n\n**Compensation:** stipend set locally; state law requires a minimum of $4/day ([T.C.A. \u00a7 49-2-202](https://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/title-49/chapter-2/part-2/section-49-2-202/)).","officequalities":"- Policy judgment on a small suburban district within Shelby County \u2014 Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, or Millington \u2014 typically several thousand students across a single elementary/middle/high feeder pattern.\n- Budget literacy for both operating and capital budgets, in coordination with the suburban municipality (which provides matching local funds in some configurations).\n- Ability to hire, evaluate, and when necessary replace the superintendent.\n- Constituent relations with parents, teachers, and community members across an actively engaged small district.\n- Willingness to complete the state-required seven hours of annual training through the Tennessee School Boards Association School Board Academy.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"School Board Lakeland","partisan":0,"pgr":"general","quantity":3,"referendum":"","source":null,"title":"Lakeland School Board"}