Hillis wins D-1 School Board seat, Cope cruises in D-5
Two new members will be joining the Warren County School Board following Thursday's election, while a familiar face will return after a commanding victory in District 5.
Monti McMahan Hillis earned the District 1 seat by defeating Nikki Griffith Reynolds 1,010-686. Hillis collected 59.6% of the votes cast between the two candidates and finished 324 votes ahead of Reynolds.
Hillis entered Election Day with a sizable advantage after receiving 668 early votes compared to 430 for Reynolds. She maintained that advantage at the polls Thursday, receiving 342 votes to Reynolds' 256.
Hillis also carried three of the four Election Day precincts included in the District 1 race. She defeated Reynolds 90-50 at the Courthouse, 86-66 at Airport and 123-89 at Smartt First Baptist. Reynolds' lone precinct victory came at Westwood, where she finished ahead 51-43 on votes cast Thursday.
“My sincere thanks to the voters of School Board District 1 for the confidence you have placed in me,” said Hillis. “I promise to do my very best to represent you and all of our schools well. Thank you to Nikki Reynolds on a good race and, to all the other candidates, I have truly enjoyed working with you and the kindness you have shown to us during this race.”
Hillis will bring decades of experience in Warren County education to the board. Her career has included time as a teacher and administrator in Warren County Schools, including serving as an assistant principal at Warren County High School and principal at Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary.
“To my family, thank you for supporting me and working so hard for another of my goals,” said Hillis. “I love Warren County and look forward to continuing to work together for our community.”
While District 1 voters selected a new representative, District 5 voters overwhelmingly returned Chris Cope to the board. Cope defeated James T. Jacobs 1,025-427, taking 70.6% of the votes cast between the two candidates.
Like Hillis, Cope had already established a substantial lead through early voting. Cope received 563 early votes to Jacobs' 241, then outpolled Jacobs 462-186 on Election Day.
Cope swept all four Election Day precincts included in his race. He won at Morrison Ruritan 148-69, at Viola Valley 84-41, at Centertown United Methodist Church 118-39 and at Midway 112-37.
“I appreciate all the continued support and look forward to keeping working hard for our students and staff and the future of Warren County,” said Cope. “Again, thanks for the opportunity to serve Warren County for another four years.”
Cope currently serves as chairman of the Warren County School Board and will return for another four-year term. He has also been active in Tennessee School Boards Association training and received Level III and Level IV Boardsmanship Awards in 2025.
District 3 will have a new representative as well. James Hines ran unopposed Thursday and received 748 total complimentary votes.
Hillis and Hines will give the board two new representatives following Thursday's election, while Cope's decisive victory keeps an experienced member in place for another term.
Editor’s Note: Election Day results are the count of votes casted today, Aug. 6. They do not include the full precinct early-voting totals.
