Bristol Tennessee School Board Candidates in Aug. 1 Primaries

Bristol, Tenn. — As the primaries loom on August 1st, voters in Bristol, Tennessee, will see three candidates vying for positions on the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education. The upcoming election includes Donna Kay Coffey and Charles Taylor, representing the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, alongside independent candidate Eric Cuddy.

Democratic Candidate: Donna Kay Coffey

Donna Kay Coffey is stepping into the political arena for the first time. With a 12-year career as a court reporter, she brings a unique perspective and a strong commitment to education. “I am an older woman and I’m familiar with the needs of students, teachers, and parents because I have a family,” Coffey shared. “You have to have a very listening ear and understand how much money is available and what we need,” she added.

Coffey’s motivation to run stems from encouragement by friends. Her campaign emphasizes community involvement. “My first goal is to encourage other people to pay attention to what’s going on and get involved,” Coffey noted.

One of Coffey’s main concerns is the state of Tennessee’s push for a voucher system. “I’m going to always vote against something that’s going to take away money from the support of our poor children in our schools. Because, you know, when we’re having a budget crisis, we certainly don’t need to outsource money to other private schools,” she explained.

Republican Candidate: Charles Taylor

Like Coffey, Charles Taylor is a fresh face in the political scene. An account executive at Burke, Powers, and Harty Insurance, Taylor is propelled by his personal connection to the local school system. With two children enrolled, he is keen on contributing to a better educational environment. “I’ve got two kids that are in the school system, one going into the fourth grade, one going into the first grade,” said Taylor. “So, I’m just hoping to maybe help make a better school system for them.”

Taylor has no specific agenda but a willingness to learn and aid the school system. “I don’t really have an agenda going into running for school board, and I’m willing to learn and just want to help,” he expressed.

Having attended several Board of Education work sessions, Taylor is aware of the financial challenges ahead. “With [federal] ESSER funds coming to an end and inflation continuing to grow, the board is going to have to make some tough decisions regarding the budget in the future,” he detailed. “There’s gonna be less money with things costing more,” Taylor explained.

Despite acknowledging his limitations, Taylor is committed to making informed choices. “I’m not going to have all the answers, but I would do my best and invest the time that it takes to hopefully make the best decision for the school system,” he conveyed.

Independent Candidate: Eric Cuddy

Chairman Eric Cuddy is not a new name on the ballot. He’s seeking reelection as an independent. “In 2021, a law was passed by the Tennessee state legislature requiring school board candidates to register with a political party,” Cuddy stated. “The independent designation is the only way to make the statement that the education of our young people has no business being politicized.”

Cuddy, a regional vice president of Assured Partners, hopes to continue building on his previous efforts. “If reelected, it will be my intention to build upon the strong relationships I have with my fellow board members to focus on cultivating students who are ready for their future,” said Cuddy.

Reflecting on the challenges faced during the pandemic, Cuddy praised the collaborative efforts with administrators. “It has been a challenging but rewarding time to be on the BTCS Board of Education. We have worked as a team with our administrators to face the challenges of educating our children during a pandemic with great focus on helping our children to overcome and recover from any deficits during that time,” Cuddy elaborated.

The August 1st primary election is set to be an important day for Bristol’s education system, with each candidate bringing their unique visions and concerns to the table. From Coffey’s community-driven campaign to Taylor’s focus on learning and helping, and Cuddy’s commitment to non-political education governance, voters have a variety of perspectives to consider.