Editor's note: The Tennessean was unable to locate campaign information for some of the candidates.
Sumner County voters will soon head to the polls for the August General Election.
Gallatin voters won't be deciding any races this election, but the city did share an update about the district 2 seat, vacated by Eileen George last month.
Meanwhile, two county school board seats are being contested this election cycle, and depending on who wins each race, it could mean big changes for the district and its policies.
Here is a look at the candidates in the contested school board races and an update on Gallatin's leadership ahead of Election Day.
School Board Member District 8
- Meghan Breinig (Republican)
- Todd Stephens (Independent)
Candidate Meghan Breinig has a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, has 15 years of experience in her field and has played a key role in founding two nonprofit organizations while volunteering with many others, according to information she's put out via social media.
"I am enthusiastic about applying my skills and commitment to enhance our local education system... I am prepared to bring my passion and capabilities to the school board, working collaboratively to make a positive impact on our community," Breinig wrote on Facebook Jan. 22.
Enhancing the local education system is a focus of her campaign, including competitive staff pay.
Candidate Todd Stephens did not provide any campaign information to the Sumner County Election Commission, nor did the candidate have any campaign information available online via a candidate webpage or social media.
Ted Wise, who currently holds this office, is not seeking re-election.
School Board Member District 9
- Kathy Stuart (Republican)
- Holly Cruz (Democratic)
- Josh Graham (Independent) - Incumbent
Candidate Kathy Stuart is dedicated to children's education and advocating for her community, she said.
"As the Republican nominee for Sumner County School Board, District 9, I am dedicated to our children's education and will be a strong advocate for our community," Stuart wrote July 1 on Facebook.
Candidate Holly Cruz said she spoke at her first school board meeting two years ago, igniting a passion to serve.
Having spent nine years in special education classrooms, Cruz understands the challenges Sumner County teachers face, she said, noting that providing a voice for teachers, advocating for school safety, ensuring a positive learning environment and being committed to fiscal responsibility are her leading issues.
She is also a strong supporter of salary increases for teachers, according to her campaign site, hollycruzfortn.com.
"When we invest in our public school system, we are investing in our future. I believe we can be good stewards of tax dollars while still providing an excellent and well-rounded education for our students," Cruz said online.
Josh Graham, the incumbent, will seek a second term in August. Graham originally decided to run for a seat on the school board in 2020 as a frustrated dad who "wanted a system that worked for everyone and not just insiders," Graham said on Facebook July 1.
Fiscal responsibility and education are a few of the leading issues for Graham, he said.
"I believe in checks and balances. I believe true representation is balancing the needs of Public Education with the financial burden placed on the citizens paying taxes to fund our schools. I believe in prioritizing spending to make sure we are fully staffed before anything else, because I believe our field level staff have a greater impact on a child's educational trajectory than anything else we can provide," Graham said on Facebook June 28.
Graham has held a spot on the Sumner School Board since early 2023. He was appointed to his seat after the sudden January 2023 death of Patricia Brown, who had been a school board member in Sumner County since 2014 and had just started her third term in office.
Gallatin leadership changes
Gallatin city leaders voted on June 25 to temporarily appoint Dr. Aaron Allison to its vacant District 2 seat until the Nov. 5 election.
Allison is currently the lead pastor at the nondenominational Christ is Love Church in Hendersonville and an instructor at Union University Hendersonville, where he's taught since 2015, according to Facebook.
His appointment comes after George's abrupt June resignation of the district 2 seat.
George gave a four-minute statement during the June 4 council meeting, saying another councilmember, his wife and their friends bullied and harassed her, and then resigned her seat.
Councilmember Pascal Jouvence, who represents Gallatin's district 3, has denied the allegations.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.
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