{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"HO DE RUIZ","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":null,"firstname":"HO","lastname":"RUIZ","middlename":"DE","suffix":null,"token":"dQ9vtfdPBL"},"token":"ho_de_ruiz"},{"candidatename":"KATHY STUART","chatgptsummary":"Kathy Stuart's biography shows incumbent experience on the Sumner County Board of Education for District 9, demonstrating familiarity with district policy and constituent relations. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy or prior superintendent evaluation experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nKathy Stuart is the incumbent Sumner County Board of Education member for District 9 and the Republican Party nominee seeking re-election in a three-way general election on the August 6, 2026 ballot, alongside Democrat Holly Cruz and independent Rachel M. Brown [1][2]. She campaigns as an advocate for children's education and the District 9 community [2].\n\n## Office history\nStuart is the sitting District 9 representative on the Sumner County Board of Education [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Kathy Stuart for Sumner County School Board District 9 \u2014 campaign Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/votekathystuart/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [School Board \u2014 Sumner County Schools](https://www.sumnerschools.org/school-board) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"KATHY","lastname":"STUART","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"Azg4mfG4mC"},"token":"kathy_stuart"},{"candidatename":"RACHEL M. BROWN","chatgptsummary":"Rachel M. Brown's decades of experience as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist demonstrate professional discipline and high-stakes decision-making relevant to board policy judgment. Her campaign emphasizes collaborative communication and fact-based decisions for constituent relations. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate budget literacy or direct education administration experience.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nRachel M. Brown is an independent candidate for Sumner County School Board District 9, running in a three-way general election on the August 6, 2026 ballot against Republican incumbent Kathy Stuart and Democrat Holly Cruz [1][2]. Her stated priority is the board's ability to work together and communicate as a team, making decisions \"based on facts rather than emotions,\" with a \"Listen, collaborate, communicate\" approach [2].\n\n## Career\nBrown is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with decades of professional experience [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [2026 Sumner County School Board District 9 \u2014 VOTE411 Voter Guide](https://onyourballot.vote411.org/candidate-detail.do?id=72170734) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"RACHEL","lastname":"BROWN","middlename":"M.","suffix":null,"token":"OKuB0uw7sc"},"token":"rachel_m_brown"},{"candidatename":"HOLLY CRUZ","chatgptsummary":"Cruz's decades as a Nurse Anesthetist demonstrate high-stakes decision-making and professional discipline relevant to board policy judgment. Her campaign initiatives for structured communication and accountability suggest potential for constituent relations with parents and community members. The biography documents no controversies or disciplinary records. Bio does not indicate experience in public school budgeting or superintendent evaluation.","notes":null,"party":"D","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nHolly Cruz is the Democratic Party nominee for Sumner County School Board District 9, running in a three-way general election on the August 6, 2026 ballot against Republican incumbent Kathy Stuart and independent Rachel M. Brown [1][2]. Her campaign centers on strengthening district communication and accountability through structured initiatives such as a Director of Schools Advisory Board, board-to-department liaisons, and community town halls, and on advocacy for public schools [2][3]. She participated in the Sumner County NAACP Candidate Community Session [3].\n\n## Career\nCruz is a Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with decades of experience [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Federal and State Primary, State Judicial and Sumner County General Elections Sample Ballot](https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/884379eec0cf6e5fb6f5678acff70a3783bde79d.pdf) -- accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [2026 Sumner County School Board District 9 -- VOTE411 Voter Guide](https://onyourballot.vote411.org/candidate-detail.do?id=72170734) -- accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Holly Cruz for TN -- campaign site](https://hollycruzfortn.com) -- accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"HOLLY","lastname":"CRUZ","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"r1JUpi49U9"},"token":"holly_cruz"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_9","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":"sumner County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.votesumnertn.org/uploads/files/b131fe1092a6465a92a366ccaf28782e09dcabe8.pdf"},"title":"School Board Member District 9"}