Incumbent Tift County School Board Member Marilyn Burks (D) and Ambrose King Jr. (D) are running in the special election for Tift County School Board District 1 in Georgia on Nov. 5. This is a re-do election of the May 21 Democratic primary, in which Burks received 156 votes to King’s 154.

Three seats on the Tift County School Board were up for election this year. Republican primaries in Districts 3 and 7 were uncontested and are also uncontested in the general election. The Democratic primary for District 1 was the only contested election. Since there are no other candidates running for the seat, the winner of the primary will be elected to the school board. 

Republicans hold a 5-2 majority on the board. Georgia is one of five states where the law allows candidates to run in partisan or nonpartisan school board elections across 180 public school districts in Georgia. As of data from the 2022-2023 school year, Georgia had 1,045 school board member seats and operated a total of 2,238 schools serving 1,735,585 students. Tift County served 7,661 students in the 2022-2023 school year.

Following the May 21 primary, King asked the county for an official recount. After the county declined King’s request, he filed a petition in court contesting the results, citing voting irregularities. King worked to investigate what he viewed as irregularities with True the Vote, an organization that says its mission is to “rebuild the trust that has been lost in our electoral system, which is fundamental to empowering all citizens and securing the foundation of our republic.” 

On Aug. 30, Tift County Superior Court Judge Howard McClain ruled that an apartment complex, whose residents voted in District 6, should have been designated to vote in District 1. In the judges ruling, he said the districting error “resulted in at least six voters receiving an irregular ballot.” A new election was scheduled for Nov. 5.

In response to the ruling, Burks said, “I am a law-abiding person and I, you know, certainly I am one who supports the safeguard of rights of voters. I am certainly a strong proponent of that integrity.” King said, “When elections are flawed or biased against us or engineered against us, we lose that aspect that makes us true Americans…Election integrity is truly a bipartisan issue.”

Burks was first elected to the Tift County School Board in 2016 and became its vice-chair in 2020. Burks received a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree from Valdosta State University. Burks taught English at Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College and served as a department chair at Tift County High School.

In an interview, Burks said, “I am running for re-election because I believe in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. I believe in the power of education to transform lives, build stronger communities, and create a brighter future for all of us. ” Burks said some of her priorities are improving student literacy, improving teachers’ and employees’ salaries and benefits, and addressing diversity and equity needs for all students.

King is a political strategist and campaign fundraiser, high school teacher, and lacrosse coach. King received degrees from Abraham Baldwin College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, Morehouse College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center. 

On his campaign website, King said, “I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate the complicated issues, and a fresh approach to getting things done. Together we can restore trust, transparency, and create an all-inclusive City of Warren.” His campaign website also said he “is fighting for a renewed promise in protecting the rights of children who seeks a free and an appropriate education.”

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