BOE candidate Clyde Jackson reacts after reinstatement

HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Houston County school board candidate is back on the ballot just 48 hours after the county election board disqualified him.

On Tuesday, the election board told Clyde Jackson he couldn’t run because of his wife’s job with the school district. On Thursday, the board changed course.

“Thank God,” Traci Jackson said as she hugged a friend after her husband was reinstated.

There were hugs and happy chats all around after the decision.

“We had faith. Our church family was here. My family was here. So when you have God, your family,” Clyde Jackson said.

“Friends and community,” Traci Jackson interjected.

“Yeah, that’s all we need,” Clyde Jackson said.

The election board disqualified Jackson on Tuesday because it said Traci Jackson was an administrator. Under Georgia law, this means Clyde Jackson could not hold a position on the school board. Traci Jackson says she works part time for the school district, helping to train teachers, and her job doesn’t involve any administrative tasks.

On Thursday, Houston County Prosecutor Tom Hall urged the election commission to change its decision from earlier this week.

“There was a phone call from someone in the school board office who raised this issue over the phone the day the qualifiers ended,” he explained. “The school board has chosen not to make this objection in writing, as required by law and at the request of Debra Presswood.”

He said the school board sent documents supporting the case an hour before the election board meeting, but Hall said he didn’t need to review them since they were submitted well after the deadline. It specifies that protests must be submitted in writing within two weeks of the end of the qualification period.

The Jacksons say they should never have been in this position, but are grateful for the outcome. If Clyde Jackson wins the second round, they say they are ready to take on any challenge.

“We have a strong family,” Clyde Jackson said. “A strong community,” added Traci Jackson.

“We have a deep faith in our God that will take care of us. So go for it. We’re ready,” Clyde Jackson said.

The Jacksons say they will hit the campaign trail Friday morning, knocking on doors and asking for votes. They say they are trying to make up for lost time earlier in the week.

After the primary, Jackson trailed challenger Angel Bowen Brown by about 12 percent.