Local communities showed up for Florida public schools by electing pro-public-school school board candidates and passing local funding referenda.
“Floridians have shown that they are ready for change,” said Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association. “For too long, lawmakers have ignored the needs of our public schools, underpaid our educators, and diverted resources away from students who need them most. While tonight’s results show that Floridians want leaders who will invest in public education and working families, we must keep pushing forward. These wins are a direct result of the dedication and hard work of FEA members across the state. Soon, Florida will have new leadership at the highest level and it’s important that our teachers, education staff professionals, parents and students are considered in every decision. No matter what, our goal remains to protect public education, and we will continue to advocate for our schools and students at every level of the state- in our local communities and with every elected state leader.”
As we look ahead to new statewide leadership, we must address the critical issues facing public education and educators: the lack of affordable health insurance, a teacher and staff shortage, reducing the burden of high-stakes testing, and a chronic and decades long lack of investment in educators and our public education system.
The Florida Education Association will continue to fight for our students and every educator—teachers, bus drivers, counselors, media specialists, custodians, and so many more—who deserve fair wages, a voice on the job, retirement with dignity, and access to healthcare. The fight continues, and every win, large or small, moves us closer to the public schools our communities deserve.
Voters elected the following FEA-endorsed candidates across the state, with special circumstances noted. A full list of election results will be found on feaweb.org/elections.
SCHOOL BOARD RACES:
- Brevard: Kyle Savage (District 2); Michele McCormack (District 5)
- Broward: Adam Cervera (District 6)
- Duval: Rhodesia “Rho” Butler (District 4)
- Hillsborough: Daniela Simic (District 2); Karen Perez (District 6)
- Lee: Debbie Jordan (District 4; Teacher’s Association of Lee County endorsement)
- Manatee: Sharon Jefferson (District 2)
- Miami-Dade: Linda Cothiere (District 1)
- Orange: Susanne Pena (District 3)
- Palm Beach: Christina Romelus (District 4) [District 4 race not called at time of release]
- Pasco: Dr. Kimberly Coward
- Pinellas: RECOUNT: Curtis Campogni (District 3)
- St. Lucie: Donna Mills (District 3); Troy Ingersoll (District 5) [District 5 race not called at time of release]
- Volusia: Brenda Beery (District 1)
LOCAL SCHOOL FUNDING REFERENDUMS
Florida’s anti-education politicians have critically underfunded Florida public schools for decades. To help meet the needs of local communities, referenda are placed on the ballot often through school boards and local unions working together to recover crucial dollars for public education.
Millage provides essential funding for school operations, such as salaries, safety and security, and music, arts, and athletics. Sales Tax referenda provides critical infrastructure funding for building maintenance and construction.
The following communities passed local referenda that will help their communities:
- Brevard: Renewal, 1 millage and ½ cent sales tax
- Broward: Renewal, 1 millage
- Charlotte: Renewal, 1 millage and 1 cent sales tax
- Clay: Renewal, 1 millage
- Duval: Renewal, 1 millage
- Franklin: Renewal, 1 millage
- Gadsden: New, ½ cent sales tax
- Gulf: New, ½ cent sales tax
- Hardee: New, 1 millage
- Hillsborough: Renewal, ½ cent sales tax
- Lake: New, 1 millage (increase from .75)
- Leon: New, 1 millage and Renewal, ½ cent sales tax
- Marion: Renewal, 1 millage
- Miami Dade: Renewal, 1 millage
- Nassau: Renewal, 1 millage
- Orange: Renewal, 1 millage
- Osceola: New, 1 millage
- Palm Beach: Renewal, 1 millage
- Pasco: Renewal, 1 millage
- Polk: New, 1 millage
- Santa Rosa: Renewal, ½ cent sales tax
- St. Lucie: Renewal, 1 millage
- Taylor: Renewal, .25 millage
- Wakulla: New, 1 millage
- Walton: Renewal, .5 millage
- Washington: New, .75 tax neutral capitol to operational
FLORIDA SENATE
- SD 10 John Lowndes
- SD 14 Brian Nathan
- SD 24 Mack Bernard
- SD 26 David Silvers
- SD 32 Rosalind Osgood
- SD 34 Ashley Gantt
- SD 36 Ileana Garcia
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- HD 9 Allison Tant
- HD 13 Audrey Gibson
- HD 22 Amy Trask
- HD 35 Eric Gray
- HD 37 Jane Aman
- HD 39 Jarod Fox
- HD 40 Ra’Shon Young
- HD 42 Felipe Sousa Lazabellet
- HD 43 Samuel Vilchez Santiago
- HD 45 Leonard Spencer
- HD 46 Jose Alvarez
- HD 60 Lindsay Polega-Quigley
- HD 64 Luis Salazar
- HD 65 Karen Gonzalez Pittman
- HD 67 Luis Viera
- HD 88 Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds
- HD 89 Debra Tendrich
- HD 90 Rob Long
- HD 92 Kelly Skidmore
- HD 94 Elizabeth Holmes
- HD 100 Michael Ferguson
- HD 101 Todd Delmay
- HD 103 Robin Bartleman
- HD 106 Lucia Baez-Geller
- HD 113 Gloria Romero Roses
- HD 117 Kevin Chambliss
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- U.S. House 9 RECOUNT: Darren Soto
- U.S. House 14 Kathy Castor
- U.S. House 20 Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
- U.S. House 22 Pia Dandiya
- U.S. House 23 Lois Frankel
- U.S. House 24 Oliver Gilbert III
- U.S. House 25 Jared Moskowitz
- U.S. House 26 Mario Diaz-Balart
