First Quarter 2026 Financial Disclosures - District 1

When I first decided to run for school board, my gut was telling me that I needed to campaign in a way that was authentically me. I've never run for a local race before. I'm not a widely known name. Just a parent with a long career learning how money always tells a story. This one is mine.

Last week, financial disclosures for the first quarter were due (link in comments). The infographic provides a summary of each candidate's reporting for the District 1 School Board race.

What mine shows: I'm in this race because I want to be the change I wish I saw more of in this world. So, no endorsements by the Sumner School Director or Hendersonville Mayor, no PAC contributions, no material donation from a business, CEOs, or real estate professionals. Removing that noise has challenged me to think outside of the standard campaign approach and align my efforts to my values.

For example, political paraphernalia is dated back to the first U.S. Presidential race in 1828 between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. Yard signs started to become more prolific in the early 1900s, with the wire signs we see everywhere standard as of the 1960s. Although technically recyclable, most yard signs still end up in the landfill. Despite the name recognition benefits, is there a more sustainable way?

Money, endorsements, yard signs, and/or party may be the determining factors in my District. I'm running my way anyway, because a choice on the ballot is only meaningful if there's actually a real choice.

UPDATE: Now that the primary is over, the cost of a mailer, a text message, and the need for more marketing material is a reality if I want people to get to know me. Although I still plan to spend as little as possible, I have since opened an ActBlue account and am accepting donations from real people who just want to support me :) Thank you!