{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"J.D. DRIVER","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"J.D.","lastname":"DRIVER","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"WC3HuzO3IE"},"token":"j_d_driver"},{"candidatename":"TRESSA D. BUSH","chatgptsummary":"Tressa D. Bush's tenure as a Smith County Commissioner demonstrates experience in local governance and budget coordination with county leadership, relevant to school board policy judgment and fiscal oversight. Her role involves constituent relations with community members, aligning with the office's need for public engagement. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate experience in education policy or superintendent evaluation.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTressa D. Bush is running as an Independent candidate for the Smith County Board of Education, District 8, on the August 6, 2026 ballot [1]. She currently serves as a Smith County Commissioner for District 8, in the Chestnut Mound area [2].\n\n## Office history\nBush is a sitting member of the Smith County Commission representing District 8 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Qualified Candidates for May 5, 2026 Election - Smith County Election Commission](https://smithcountyelection.com/upload_petitions/petitions.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [County Commissioners - Smith County Government](https://smithcotn.com/county-commissioners/) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"TRESSA","lastname":"BUSH","middlename":"D.","suffix":null,"token":"8edJdQsT8p"},"token":"tressa_d_bush"},{"candidatename":"STANLEY CLAYWELL","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"STANLEY","lastname":"CLAYWELL","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"DJCfrGQ8vO"},"token":"stanley_claywell"},{"candidatename":"SCOTTY LEWIS","chatgptsummary":"Scotty Lewis's biography shows four years of service on the Smith County Board of Education, demonstrating experience with policy judgment and constituent relations for a public school district. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy or direct superintendent evaluation experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nScotty Lewis is the incumbent member of the Smith County Board of Education for District 8 (Elmwood) and is seeking re-election as an Independent candidate on the August 6, 2026 ballot [1][2]. The District 8 school-board race also includes Stanley Claywell, J.D. Driver and Tressa D. Bush [1].\n\n## Office history\nLewis has represented District 8 (Elmwood) on the Smith County Board of Education since 2022 [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Qualified Candidates for May 5, 2026 Election - Smith County Election Commission](https://smithcountyelection.com/upload_petitions/petitions.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Smith County Board of Education - Smith County Schools](https://www.smithcoedu.com/smith-county-board-of-education-hom) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"SCOTTY","lastname":"LEWIS","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"oF2kVQRTlr"},"token":"scotty_lewis"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_8","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":"2026-07-20","title":"smith County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.smithcountyelection.com/upload_sampleballot/sampleballot.pdf"},"title":"School Board District 8"}