First Contested School Board Race in 12 Years: What You Need to Know About Post 7
On May 19, Bibb County voters will decide the first competitive Post 7 school board race since 2014. After two consecutive cycles where incumbent Daryl Morton ran unopposed, two candidates, Kerry Hatcher and Amy Morton, are vying to replace the outgoing board president as the district faces enrollment decline, a budget crisis, and hard choices about school consolidation.
Post 7 is one of two at-large seats on the eight-member Bibb County Board of Education, meaning every registered voter in the county can cast a ballot, not just those in a particular district.
The Candidates
Kerry Hatcher brings a technical background to the race. A longtime IT professional currently employed at Cox Communications, Hatcher has deep experience in data systems, software, and technology infrastructure. He describes himself as a data-driven decision maker with libertarian leanings, though his positions on education policy don't fit neatly into any one box.
On school choice, a flashpoint issue nationally, Hatcher stakes out a nuanced middle ground. "I believe that families should have the freedom and ability to choose what is best for their children," he has said. "However, I believe that a well funded and well operated public school district would be the majority of families' first choice. The community's preference for a public school system should be earned, not assumed."
He's not opposed to charter schools but wants careful scrutiny of each proposal, citing past fraud in Bibb County. He also supports bringing homeschool students into district extracurricular programs as a way to build trust and serve all children regardless of where they're enrolled.
Amy Morton comes to the race with over 25 years of policy and civic organizing experience. She co-founded Better Georgia, described as the state's largest progressive nonprofit, and has been involved in education and voting advocacy at the state level.
*Disclosure: Amy Morton is the wife of outgoing board president Daryl Morton, whose Post 7 seat she is running to fill. Voters should be aware of this direct family connection when evaluating the race.*
Why This Race Matters Now
The next Post 7 board member will inherit responsibility for guiding the district through:
A declining enrollment crisis — the district has lost roughly 2,700 students since 2018-2019 and is projected to lose another 1,000 by 2035
A budget reckoning — FY2027 projections show a $307 million budget with rising costs, potential millage increases, and possible school consolidations
The Georgia Promise Scholarship fallout — 582 students have already left the district on state vouchers, costing an estimated $2.4M-$3M in revenue
A school consolidation debate that was shelved in 2025 after community opposition but has been called "inevitable" by the district's own consultants
The board member elected in May will serve a four-year term through 2030, spanning the most critical stretch of the district's enrollment and budget challenges.
The Turnout Question
Historical data reveals something that should concern every Bibb County resident who cares about schools: most voters who show up on election day skip the school board race entirely.
In 2014, the last time Post 7 was contested, 44,232 voters cast ballots in the May primary. But only about 18,500 voted in the Post 7 race. That's a ballot completion rate of roughly 42%. More than half the voters who showed up left the school board portion blank.
Research compiled from Georgia Secretary of State data shows that about 78% of voters who do vote in Post 7 do so consistently, whether the race is contested or not. The variable isn't enthusiasm. It's awareness. Many voters simply don't know the race is on their ballot.
2026 Turnout Projections
If Total Turnout Is... | Expected Post 7 Votes | Votes Needed to Win |
|---|---|---|
25,000 | ~10,500 | ~5,300 |
35,000 | ~14,700 | ~7,400 |
40,000 | ~16,800 | ~8,400 |
50,000 | ~21,000 | ~10,500 |
With Governor and U.S. Senate primaries also on the May 19 ballot, total turnout could range from 25,000 to 50,000 depending on how competitive those statewide races get. Comparable years (2010, 2014) clustered around 40,000-44,000 voters.
The Bigger Picture
Post 7 isn't the only board seat on the ballot. Post 8, the other at-large seat currently held by Lisa Garrett, is also up in May, though candidates for that race are still being finalized.
Together, Posts 7 and 8 are the only school board seats where every voter in the county has a say. The district races (Posts 1-6) are decided by voters within specific geographic boundaries.
How to Prepare
The election is May 19, 2026. Early voting dates and locations will be announced by the Macon-Bibb Board of Elections.
The school board race will appear on the nonpartisan section of your ballot, typically below the partisan primary races for Governor, U.S. Senate, and state legislature. Look for it. It will be there.
With $307 million in taxpayer funds and the education of over 20,000 children at stake, this is the most consequential down-ballot race in Bibb County this year.
*BibbUnited encourages all voters to research both candidates and make their voice heard on May 19. Have questions about the candidates or the election? Contact us at [email protected].*