Tucker McClendon, a UTC senior, announced he is running for the District 8 County School Board seat.
A lifelong resident of District 8 and a product of Hamilton County Schools (Ooltewah High School 2013), Mr. McClendon will graduate in May from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he currently serves as the Government and External Affairs Chair for Student Government.
His campaign said, "With the support and encouragement of his friends and family, Tucker is betting on his passion for community and education reform to challenge for a seat on the Hamilton County School Board. Tucker’s vision of Hamilton County is one of new ideas and great promise. That’s why he wants its education system to serve as the foundation of its future.
"By empowering Hamilton County schools to offer the best education in the state, it will serve as a direct catalyst to continued prosperity for all of us who want a better Hamilton County. Tucker’s mission is to ensure that we succeed as a community, and like many of us he understands that this success cannot be achieved without education.
"In his own words, 'Education is the most valuable and important investment we can make as a community.' Tucker’s heart is in this, and he wants to see all our future engineers, doctors, electricians and mechanics carried to success through the unwavering support of their communities.
"When elected, Tucker pledges to bring a fresh new voice to the educational sector and create avenues for new, convergent sources of funding. Tucker will be accessible, open-minded and willing to listen to forward-thinking ideas and visions."