{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Cory Martin","chatgptsummary":"Cory Martin's biography shows twenty years of local residency, active parent engagement through weekly volunteering, and sustained attendance at board meetings as a software developer. The record contains no documented controversies or disciplinary actions. Bio does not indicate experience in public budgeting or direct superintendent evaluation.","notes":null,"party":"I","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nCory Martin is an independent candidate for the Williamson County Board of Education, District 8, in the August 6, 2026 general election, running against Republican incumbent Donna Clements [1][2]. He runs with no party or PAC backing and says his top priority is teacher recruitment and retention through a respectful culture and adequate funding [1][3]. He opposes voucher programs, arguing \"public money should support public schools,\" supports AI-literacy education for computer science students, and emphasizes transparency and reducing partisan politics in schools [1].\n\n## Background and career\nMartin is a software developer who has followed the school board's work closely, attending meetings for years and sharing updates on local education policy through a Substack newsletter; he says he wants more residents aware of local elections [1][3].\n\n## Family\nMartin has lived in Williamson County for more than 20 years [1][3]. His wife grew up in the county and graduated from Brentwood High School, and their two daughters attend Williamson County Schools; he has volunteered weekly at his older daughter's school since she started kindergarten [1][3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Cory Martin for School Board (campaign site)](https://corymartin.com/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Early voting turnout small so far (Williamson Herald)](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/early-voting-turnout-small-so-far/article_e2bc741a-142b-4bc6-b5c7-3b494e3d2674.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Cory","lastname":"Martin","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"roVsktPogj"},"token":"cory_martin"},{"candidatename":"Donna Clements","chatgptsummary":"Donna Clements' tenure on the Williamson County Board of Education and her decade of teaching experience demonstrate relevant policy judgment and constituent relations skills for a School Board Member role. Her background includes community advocacy for fiscal integrity through local groups. The biography contains no record of controversy or disciplinary action. Bio does not indicate specific budget literacy or state-mandated training experience.","notes":null,"party":"R","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\nDonna Clements is the Republican incumbent for the Williamson County Board of Education, District 8, seeking re-election in the August 6, 2026 general election against independent candidate Cory Martin [1][2].\n\n## Office history\nClements was first sworn in to the District 8 seat in 2022 [3].\n\n## Background and education\nA roughly 20-year Williamson County resident, Clements earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in education from Vanderbilt University; she has more than a decade of teaching experience in the Nashville and Franklin areas [3].\n\n## Community involvement\nShe helped create Keep Williamson County Livable, a group formed to advocate for responsible growth and fiscal integrity in the county [3].\n\n## Family\nClements and her husband, Runcie, moved to the Temple Hills area of Williamson County to raise their four children [3].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Williamson voters deciding next school board members (NewsChannel 5)](https://www.newschannel5.com/news/williamson-voters-deciding-next-school-board-members) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[2] [Williamson County Election Commission Candidate List (Rev. Feb. 19, 2026)](https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29313/CandidatesMayAugRevFeb19th12NOON) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22\n[3] [Longtime educator Clements to run for District 8 school board seat (Williamson Herald)](https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/longtime-educator-clements-to-run-for-district-8-school-board-seat/article_49ecb5e0-8ae2-11ec-956b-e32e0bd1c044.html) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-22","firstname":"Donna","lastname":"Clements","middlename":null,"suffix":null,"token":"3MewaSOxSg"},"token":"donna_clements"}],"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":"2026-07-19","title":"williamson County, TN \u2014 August 6, 2026 Sample Ballot","url":"https://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29486/2026-August-ExpressVote-GEN"},"title":"County Board Of Education District 8"}