Amid dispute over primary loss, Anderson County officials criticize Ragan’s education stances

Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, confronted by members of the public after a meeting of the committee on studying rejecting federal education funds in Nov. 2023. Several officials in Ragan’s district say his stances on education played a factor in his Aug. 1, 2024 loss in the Republican primary.(Photo: John Partipilo)

Positions on Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher plan and reading standards may have cost Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, his berth as the Republican nominee. 

Ragan is challenging his 258-vote loss to former Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough in the Aug. 1 primary and the Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee will hear arguments in his case Saturday. 

Ragan has blamed his loss on Democrats who crossed over to vote in the Republican primary but local elected officials said his education stance played a role. 

“In short, I believe that John Ragan lost because he listens to lobbyists and party hacks, and not to his constituents,” said Angi Agle, a member of the Oak Ridge Board of Education Member, noting she does not speak for the bord. “When (predecessor) Jim Hackworth served the 33rd District, he would frequently call to inquire about how a proposed bill might affect Oak Ridge Schools.  He was doing his homework, not calling on someone from his own party, but someone with boots on the ground who might be able to provide additional insight.”

Teresa Portwood with Anderson County Board of Education echoed a disconnect with constituents.

“The people elected you as their representative. You have voted for laws that your constituents asked you not to,” she said. “Why do you not listen to educators [when] obviously you are not one?”

Other officials specifically addressed Ragan’s support for vouchers.

“The Anderson County Commission along with Oak Ridge City Council and Clinton City Council passed resolutions asking him to oppose school vouchers along with the Anderson County Board of Education, the Oak Ridge School Board as well as the Clinton City School Board. His response was ‘no,’ thus leading to his defeat,” Anderson County Commissioner Robert McKamey said.

Ragan’s public position on vouchers is nuanced, however. Before the primary, he spoke to the Oak Ridge chapter of the League of Women Voters and with Anderson County Commission’s Legislative Committee. At both events he defended a school voucher bill that failed to pass. He argued he supported the House bill not based on vouchers but on other provisions in the bill such as increased teacher pay, health benefits and funding for school maintenance. He said he would not support any bill for vouchers alone. 

“I didn’t support Gov. Lee’s proposal. I did support his proposal as modified by the House,” Ragan said.

At the same event, Scarbrough said he opposed the bill but focused his response not on vouchers but on the additional measures added to the version Ragan endorsed. For example, he criticized the bill’s changes to health insurance policy due to the funding required. His campaign website does not state whether he endorses Lee’s voucher proposal.

Agle also said Ragan’s support for a controversial third grade retention measure based on TCAP scores could have alienated voters. 

“While I agree that reading is of primary importance, I do not agree that any one-day exam is appropriate for determining whether a student is ready to be promoted.  Individual teachers and principals are much better judges of that readiness,” Agle said. 

But not all local officials agree with the assessment from Agle, Portwood and McCamey. 

Oak Ridge Board of Education member Heather Hartman agrees with Ragan that his defeat was likely due to Democrats voting for Scarbrough, echoing Ragan’s statements.

“It’s one of the risks of open primaries,” she said.

Anderson County Commissioner Anthony Allen endorsed Ragan’s challenge of the results.

“The Republican Party primary doesn’t belong to Democrats to meddle in or vote in. In the Republican primary, Republicans decide who our candidates are, not Democrats!” he wrote in a public Facebook post. “Do not listen to the sirens who are unaccustomed to winning! Instead, listen to what Trump said during the assassination attempt. He stood up, raised his fist in the air and shouted ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’”

Anderson County Republican Party Chairwoman Myra Mansfield quoted Allen in an email, adding, “May the Anderson County Republican Party turn the key that unlocks election integrity for all!”