Two candidates in two of the four Hamilton County school board races this year will be running unopposed – incumbent Tiffanie Robinson for the District 4 seat and newcomer Marco Perez for the District 2 seat.
Though incumbent Kathy Lennon qualified to run for re-election, she told the Times Free Press she will pull her name off the ballot on Thursday.
Thursday, April 9, is the deadline for candidates who have qualified for any race to remove their names. Lennon said she wanted to wait until the last minute because it’s been a hard decision for her.
“I regret that as a result of recent health issues that I wish to withdraw my name as a candidate for county school board District 2,” Lennon said. “My life has been dedicated to the service of others in my community as I am driven by my faith to do so. Serving on the school board for the past four years has been the culmination of that service.”
Lennon’s withdrawal leaves the race, which initially looked like it would be the most crowded one this election cycle, with only one contender. Former Red Bank Mayor John Roberts announced his candidacy in February, but didn’t qualify to run.
Perez, a local entrepreneur and businessman, said that Lennon’s tenure has been an example for him and helped motivate him to run.
“I’m one of those people who has seen the great benefit and the great service our schools do for our community. I’m a firm believer in our public schools and I believe that we are headed in the right direction right now. I saw this as an opportunity to serve my community,” Perez said.
HAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
District 1— Rhonda Thurman, incumbent— Stephen VickersDistrict 2— Marco PerezDistrict 4— Tiffanie Robinson, incumbentDistrict 7— Joe Wingate, incumbent— Debbi Meyers
He said he doesn’t intend to rush into full campaign mode because of the current coronavirus pandemic and anticipates that he will need to be innovative when it comes to fundraising and campaigning this year.
Incumbent Robinson is running unopposed to keep her District 4 seat, which she has held since 2016, but incumbents Joe Wingate, of District 7 and Rhonda Thurman, of District 6, both face opposition.
Stephen Vickers, a lifelong resident of Soddy-Daisy, picked up papers and turned them in to qualify to run against Thurman on the last day to do so, April 2.
Though Vickers hasn’t spoken out against Thurman, she has hinted that he is backed by Hamilton County United, a teacher advocacy group that recently filed a formal complaint against her.
Teachers associated with Hamilton County United have begun to raise awareness about the Vickers campaign and helped organized the push for him to get the signatures needed to qualify.
In an email Thursday, Vickers acknowledged that he was for sure running and said he believes he can represent the entire community’s interests on the school board.
“While I’m a lifelong Republican, the School Board race is nonpartisan and I want everyone to feel comfortable reaching out to me. I want to work with and hear from everyone, including students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members. I am running so that I may give them a voice on the school board, because everyone has a right to be listened to and heard,” Vickers said in an email. “I’ve seen all the different perspectives, through the eyes of teachers, parents and students. I believe that I am best able to bring that experience to the Hamilton County School Board so that District 1 has someone that is truly representing everyone’s interests.”
Wingate is facing opposition from Debbi Meyers in District 7. Meyers is a member of the Hamilton County Republican Women’s Club.
Hamilton County school board members are elected for four-year terms. The non-partisan election will be on this year’s August general election ballot.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.