Bristol, Tennessee School Board Candidates Gear Up for August Primaries

The upcoming August 1 primary election is buzzing with anticipation as three candidates gear up for a spot on the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education. Voters will find two of the three candidates, Donna Kay Coffey and Charles Taylor, on their respective party primary ballots.

First on the ballot is Donna Kay Coffey, running as a Democrat. Coffey, a seasoned court reporter with twelve years of experience, is diving into the political scene for the first time. She expressed her motivation succinctly, “I am an older woman and I’m familiar with the needs of students, teachers, and parents because I have a family. You have to have a very listening ear and understand how much money is available and what we need.”

Encouraged by her friends and keen on making a difference, Coffey aims to inspire others to take the plunge into local politics. One of her prime areas of concern 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,” Coffey stated firmly.

The second candidate, Charles Taylor, is running as a Republican. Taylor is an account executive at Burke, Powers, and Harty Insurance and is also entering the political arena for the first time. With two children in the city’s school system, Taylor’s candidacy is deeply personal. “I’ve got two kids that are in the school system, one going into the fourth grade, one going into the first grade. So, I’m just hoping to maybe help make a better school system for them,” Taylor shared.

Taylor acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead for the Board of Education, especially with the expiration of federal ESSER funds and the ongoing inflation. “The cost of doing everything has gone up with inflation. So, you know, repairs to buildings whether it be electrical, HVAC, roof, all of that stuff costs more money and some of the higher grants and things are starting to fall off. There’s gonna be less money with things costing more,” Taylor explained.

Despite admitting that he doesn’t have all the solutions, Taylor is optimistic about learning and contributing. “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 assured.

The third candidate, Eric Cuddy, is the current board chair and is running as an independent. Unlike his opponents, Cuddy’s name won’t appear on either party primary ballot. His choice to run as an independent is a testament to his belief that education should remain apolitical. “In 2021, a law was passed by the Tennessee state legislature requiring school board candidates to register with a political party. The independent designation is the only way to make the statement that the education of our young people has no business being politicized,” Cuddy explained.

As the regional vice president of Assured Partners, a global insurance broker, Cuddy draws from his extensive professional experience to contribute to the board. Reflecting on his tenure, Cuddy remarked, “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.”

If reelected, Cuddy hopes to build on the achievements of the past five years and continue fostering strong relationships with fellow board members. His vision is clear: “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.”

As the city of Bristol approaches the primary election, these three candidates present a variety of visions and solutions for bettering the school system. It’s now up to the voters to decide which path they believe will best serve the interests of their children and community.