CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Hamilton County Commission is set to choose a new District 11 school board member this week after hearing from applicants for the open seat on Monday in Chattanooga.
Sherri Ford, Estar Murage, Vanessa Jackson, Derek Anderson and Erin Bolinger each sat down with commissioners Monday morning. A sixth applicant, Esme Oehmig, could not attend in person but will still be interviewed and considered. Each candidate laid out priorities for local students and then took questions from commissioners.
Ford said she wants to make sure school dollars are spent where they help students most. Jackson stressed community partnerships and keeping students at the center of decisions. Murage said she wants to borrow proven programs from successful schools.
Commissioners also asked about displaying the Ten Commandments in county schools. Bolinger, Anderson, Oehmig and Jackson said they would have voted against it, while Murage and Ford said they would have voted for it.
Jill Black left the board in August, walking away with two years still remaining on her term. The commission held off on formally accepting the resignation, which kept the choice with commissioners rather than sending it to voters. When the commission finally accepted the resignation earlier this month, the vote was not unanimous.
Commissioners are expected to settle on a finalist at their regular meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a full commission vote to follow. Whoever is chosen will hold the seat until voters elect a successor.
Section: More Chattanooga TN politics news
Filed under: Chattanooga TN Politics News
