Houston County reverses decision to disqualify school board candidate. Here’s what we know

The Houston County Board of Elections reversed a decision to disqualify a school board candidate after an emergency meeting Thursday.

The reversal came just two days after the board disqualified District 7 candidate Clyde Jackson based on his wife’s employment with the Houston County Board of Education. He is a retired teacher and coach.

The board voted 3-1 to keep Jackson on the ballot in the June runoff. Board member Andrew Bennett cast the dissenting vote.

“It’s the way it’s supposed to have been in the first place,” Jackson said after the reversal. “How can you ring a bell and then unring it? You can’t unring a bell.”

Jackson said it was a “travesty” he had to go through the process. He expressed appreciation for his supporters.

The issue

The disqualification was based on state law Section 20-2-51 (4)(a) that states in part:

“No person who has an immediate family member sitting on a local board of education or serving as the local school superintendent or as a principal, assistant principal, or system administrative staff in the local school system shall be eligible to serve as a member of such local board of education.”

Jackson’s wife, Traci, who retired from the Houston County school system, currently serves in a part-time position as a coordinator for district and school effectiveness. She is a former principal and educator.

She told The Telegraph before the start of Thursday’s emergency meeting that her role is not an administrative position and that she works less than 20 hours a week.

However, Jennifer Jones, school spokeswoman, said in an email that Traci Jackson would still be considered an “administrator” in current part-time employment.

“The Houston County School District classifies administrative staff in line with state reporting documents. The duties and responsibilities assigned to a Coordinator of District & School Effectiveness require the individual to coach and mentor principals, assistant principals and teachers. This position provides leadership and guidance for the purpose of improving the performance of instructional staff members. The individual must also possess or be eligible for a valid Georgia Professional Teacher Certificate in Educational Leadership.”

The Jacksons could not be reached for additional comment by telephone late Thursday.

Challenge not filed in timely manner

Before a crowded meeting, County Attorney Tom Hall said that former school board candidate Caly Hess didn’t file the challenge in a timely manner. Hess came in last among the candidates vying for the District 7 post during the May election.

Nonetheless, the board has a right to challenge any candidate prior to the election, Hall said.

The issue also had been raised by a telephone caller when candidates were qualified by the elections for the post but never put in writing, Hall said.

The courts currently have not heard this issue. He said the school board can assert their authority on whether an elected person does not have grounds to serve on the board and the elected person can seek the court’s review.

“From start to finish, I see many problems in the way this was handled, and I would share in that responsibility,” Hall said. “I’m not trying to shirk from that.

“My counsel to the board of elections is to rescind the action of Tuesday night and allow the runoff election to take place,” he said.

The crowd reacted with applause.

In a field of six candidates in the May election, Jackson emerged with 4,117 votes, or 22.7% of the vote — placing him in a runoff with Angel Brown, who won 6,348 votes, or 35.01%, according to a board of elections summary report.

In Georgia, a candidate must earn more than 50% of the vote to win an election.

This story was originally published June 6, 2024 at 1:49 PM.