{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"CATHY J. THOMAS","chatgptsummary":"Cathy J. Thomas's biography shows over a decade of service on the Unicoi County Board of Education, demonstrating familiarity with policy judgment and constituent relations for a school district. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in budget literacy or superintendent evaluation.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nCathy J. Thomas is a sitting member of the Unicoi County Board of Education representing the 1st District and is one of two Republican nominees on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot for the two School Board District 1 seats, an uncontested race with two candidates for two seats [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nThomas is one of the six members of the Unicoi County Board of Education and has represented the 1st District; she was elected to a District 1 school board seat in the August 2014 county election [2][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Ballot, State and County General Election, Unicoi County, August 6, 2026](https://unicoivotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/COUNTY-GENERAL.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Unicoi County Schools \u2014 Board of Education](https://www.unicoischools.com/page/board-of-education) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[3] [Updated election results \u2014 The Erwin Record](https://www.erwinrecord.net/local-news/updated-election-results/) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"CATHY","lastname":"THOMAS","middlename":"J.","suffix":null,"token":"vSASth542Z"},"token":"cathy_j_thomas"},{"candidatename":"TAMMY EDWARDS TIPTON","chatgptsummary":"Tipton's biography shows current service on the Unicoi County Board of Education, demonstrating direct experience with policy judgment and constituent relations for a school district. The record does not indicate budget literacy or specific experience in hiring and evaluating superintendents. Bio does not indicate prior experience with state-mandated training completion.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nTammy Edwards Tipton (listed on the board roster as Tammy Tipton) is a sitting member of the Unicoi County Board of Education and is one of two Republican nominees on the August 6, 2026 county general ballot for the two School Board District 1 seats, an uncontested race with two candidates for two seats [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nTipton is one of the six members of the Unicoi County Board of Education [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Official Ballot, State and County General Election, Unicoi County, August 6, 2026](https://unicoivotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/COUNTY-GENERAL.pdf) - accessed 2026-07-23\n[2] [Unicoi County Schools \u2014 Board of Education](https://www.unicoischools.com/page/board-of-education) - accessed 2026-07-23","firstname":"TAMMY","lastname":"TIPTON","middlename":"EDWARDS","suffix":null,"token":"wMmTNULg7g"},"token":"tammy_edwards_tipton"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"school_board","o.office":null,"office":"county_school_board_district_1","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":2,"referendum":null,"source":{"retrieved_at":"2026-07-20","title":"unicoi County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://unicoivotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/COUNTY-GENERAL.pdf"},"title":"School Board District 1"}