BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – One of the candidates running for a seat on the Williamson County School Board has addressed leaked emails that allegedly revealed interest in ousting the current Director of Schools, Dr. Mike Looney.

As early voting continues, the Williamson County School Board race is becoming one of the most hotly contested races. Several emails sent to school board candidates and others were leaked to media outlets showing that a group has begun strategizing to remove Looney after the election.

Thursday, Dr. Beth Burgos, along with three other candidates, read a statement to the media addressing the plan cited in those secret e-mails.

“We acknowledge there have been numerous emails sent out that we've been copied on. We cannot control what other people write or even might what ben said in those emails,” Burgos said during the press conference.

“Why are we standing in front of the high school if you don't have kids that go here,” asked NewsChannel 5’s Chris Conte.

“I said we aren't taking questions today,” Burgos responded. “We've already been treated poorly by the press. We love you, sort of, but we don't want to be sucked in to anymore antics.”

The other candidates said they did not want to remove Looney. 

Williamson County is the highest achieving school district in the state. Still education remains a hot button issue and will ultimately bring voters to the polls on August 7.