Candidate · November 3, 2026

Robert C. Vick

On the ballot for Governor · Tennessee

IndependentOpen seat
issues with public statements
4

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeGovernor · Tennessee1,2
Party on the ballotIndependent1
StatusOpen seat — no incumbent is running for this seat.
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Robert C. Vick was born and raised in White Pine, Tennessee, and has always lived in Jefferson County.3,4 He has worked in public education for 40 years, 12 as a teacher and 28 as an administrator, including as principal of several East Tennessee elementary schools.4 Since 2022 he has been athletic director and assistant principal at Cocke County High School.4 He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, an education specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University and a doctorate in education from East Tennessee State University.3

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says he is running so that Tennessee families' concerns are treated as real priorities, and that his decision to run grew out of his Christian faith.3,5

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Education

Vouchers and education savings accounts

His campaign website says he respects parents' right to choose private or home schooling but is deeply concerned about universal school vouchers, saying they drain money from local public schools, and calls for a public-first approach.4

State K-12 school funding

His campaign website says the state must fully fund public classrooms and pay teachers a competitive wage.4

  1. Increase state funding for public schools
  2. Hold funding near current levels
  3. Reduce state school funding or slow its growth
Marked: the option their statement matches.
Religion in public schools

His campaign website says he would not support organized prayer in public schools and would never use his office to push his religion on others.4

  1. Require religious displays such as the Ten Commandments
  2. Let schools choose to post religious texts, lead prayer or hire chaplains
  3. No school-sponsored prayer or religious displays, while students may pray or share their faith on their own
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Taxes and Budget

State sales taxes

His campaign website proposes a state sales tax holiday or a permanent sales tax cut on energy-efficient home repairs and appliances.4

§4Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left.

Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Online campaign finance records search — Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.7