Sharon Gentry Joins the School Board

Sharon Gentry is sworn in as the District 1 representative of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education Tuesday by Davidson County General Sessions Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton. Gentry's daughter Taylor, 8, holds the Bible. (Photo courtesy of The Tennessean/Sanford Myers)

Sharon Gentry Wins!

I'm so happy the folks in District 1 could care less about all the blogosphere silliness concerning Chamber of Commerce machinations and running for public office as a new mother. They wanted an intelligent and well-qualified person - who has business savvy and a doctorate of education - to represent them on the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education.

Sharon Gentry will make a terrific addition to that board. Yes, I'm biased given my association with the Gentry family, but it still doesn't change the fact that she was the best qualified candidate in District 1. The voters there obviously agreed.

I'm also glad that Alan Coverstone has won in District 9. We need more people like Sharon and Alan overseeing our system. I know the state is taking more and more control because of the federal "No Child Left Behind" statute but for now our local voice is in better hands than it was before this election.

School Board Incumbent Drops Out

I'm a day late posting this but Sharon Gentry has one less opponent in her race for the MNPS School Board District 1 seat - the incumbent has dropped out. And former Metro Councilman John Summers won't be running for the open District 9 seat after all. The deadline to withdraw from the Aug. 7 ballot was noon yesterday.

Sharon Gentry For School Board!

I got some exciting news today when checking my email - Sharon Gentry is running for the District 1 Metro Nashville Public Schools Board seat. She will face incumbent George H. Thompson III and two other challengers in the Aug. 7 county general election.

I'll happily and proudly admit my bias upfront - Sharon is the wife of former Nashville Vice Mayor Howard Gentry, who I was honored to work for in his 2007 campaign for mayor. I've known both for several years and I feel very blessed to know them.

She recently completed her doctorate in education at Tennessee State University. On a more personal note, in addition to being one of the most intelligent and articulate persons I've ever met, Dr. Gentry has the integrity, compassion and drive to do a great deal for our schools.

I regret that I don't live in District 1 or she'd have my vote already; I encourage voters there to cast their ballot for someone I strongly believe will take our school district forward. The Gentrys have a young daughter in Nashville's public school system right now and so do my wife and I. I know they'll both be better off with Dr. Gentry on the board.