Volunteer firefighter Darrell Blankenship has qualified and is seeking the Limestone County Board of Education District 6 position.

Blankenship has lived in the district for 38 years and attended Johnson Junior High School and then moved to Ardmore High School where he graduated in 1986. He later attended Calhoun Community College and obtained an EMT-B certification in order to better serve the community as a firefighter/emt for Oak-Grove Thach Fire Department.

He has served with the fire department for more than 12 years, serving as the assistant chief the past six years.

“I am running for this position in order to serve the county in the best way possible, our children,” Blankenship said. “The way I see things our children are our future leaders and I think every child in the system should have the opportunity to get the very best education. Each child should be college ready when they exit our school system.

“I will fight for more funding for our locals schools no matter the size in order to equip our teacher s with the best possible tools to educate our children. I have secured funds for the fire department by working with our state officials in the past and I think with a little work we can do the same for our schools. I also want more parental involvement in our schools. I have a firm belief that parents should feel welcome and needed in their child’s education system.

Blankenship and his wife, Denise, have been married for 18 years and they have two children in the county school system. Clint, 15, attends Ardmore High Schol and Austin, 11, is a student at Johnson Elementary. Both are active in Limestone County 4-H.