HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — The race for the Post 7 School Board race is back on in Houston County. The seat is a county-wide representative.
Last week, candidate Clyde Jackson was disqualified by the Board of Elections, because of his wife's job with the district. But his disqualification wouldn't last long.
Only 48 hours later, the board decided to put him back on the ballot.
This week, the community has the opportunity to choose between him and his opponent, Angel Bowen Brown, as early voting begins in the run-off election.
Angel Bowen Brown is a graduate of the school district and says her three children are as well. She says her mother was a librarian, and they have always thought highly of the schools.
For 17 years, she has run her business at Core Physical Therapy in Bonaire, but in her free time, while her children were in school, she was heavily involved in the schools.
"Whether it was room mom, or being a part of the PTO, I was asked over 10 years ago to be on the school council," she said.
School council is a policy advisory board. Bowen was on it at Matt Arthur Elementary for three years and Veterans High School for seven years. She also started the Teachers Appreciation Week at Veterans.
"The school systems in Houston County are excellent and they have been excellent for a long time," she shared.
In her time working with teachers, she says she noticed their concern for things like classroom size. She says one of her goals will be to continue to empower and support teachers.
"I want to be able to give them the resources they need, so they can focus on what they do best which is teach our children," she said.
Her other goals include helping to manage a proper budget and safeguarding education by removing what she calls hidden agendas.
"Take political biases out of the classroom, so that we can really focus on what's important," she said.
Now, she wants to help maintain that standard as the county continues to grow.
Opponent Clyde Jackson studied Middle-Grade Education at Fort Valley State University.
"After I received my degree from Fort Valley State, they recruited me to come back to the great Houston County," he shared.
Jackson is also a Houston County native. He is a graduate of Warner Robins High School, and so are his two children. He says he was inspired by his own teachers in the county.
"I had a great Georgia educator, who made history fun. That's one reason I went into education," Jackson shared.
For 30 years, he taught history in the district. He started off at Northside Jr. High, then he moved to Bonaire Middle School. While at both locations, he also coached boys and girls sports. He said he went above and beyond for athletes, making sure students' grades came first.
His goals include being accessible to parents and being more visible in the schools.
"I think monthly town hall meetings will help. That way parents will come and get clarification on the policies and procedures," Jackson shared.
He says representation is important, and he hopes to provide that to parents and staff. Plus he hopes to ensure equal opportunities for students.
"Whether on the northside of town, southside of town, westside or the east, access means all so all kids should have access to a great education here in Houston County," he said.
You can cast your ballot from June 10 - 14 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at one of Houston County's three early voting locations.
- Sonny Watson Health Sciences Building at Central Georgia Tech
- The Board of Elections Office
- Houston Health Pavilion Conference Center
Election Day is June 18.