2026 School Board Candidates

Click on the names below to see candidate responses to a series of questions relating to parental rights, book objections, censorship and the overall importance of the school library. All Florida school board candidates, excluding those who ran uncontested, were invited to answer these questions. The names below with a hyperlink are the candidates who chose to do so. The website will be updated as more responses come in. Please note that responses are directly from the candidates and have not been modified in any way.
*indicates incumbent candidate

Alachua
District 1
Gabriel Lopez (November Runoff Election)
Hunter Miller (November Runoff Election)
Janine Plavac (November Runoff Election)
District 3
Gregory Pelham (Lost)
Sarah Rockwell (Won)
District 5
Janice Vinson 
Baker
District 2
Jack Baker Jr. 
District 3
Clayton Lyons 
District 4
Mandi Canaday 
Bay
District 2
Ginger Littleton (Won)
Michael Petty (Lost)
District 3
Dr. John L. Haley (November Runoff Election)
Colleen Koch ​(Lost)
Glenn Manley (Lost)
Christopher Moore (November Runoff Election)
District 5
Steve Moss
Bradford
District 1
Sheila Fayson Cummings
District 2
Gayle Nicula
District 5
Lacey Coleman
Brevard
District 1
Tara "Coach T" Gibson (Lost)
Megan Wright* (Won)
District 2
Kyle Savage (November Runoff Election)
Gene Trent* (November Runoff Election)
Kelly Wentworth (Lost)
District 5
Tammy Dennis (November Runoff Election)
Michele McCormack (November Runoff Election)
Cecilia Trotter (Lost)
Broward
District 1
Maura McCarthy Bulman (Won)
Carmen Jackie Gimenez (Lost)
District 4
Sharry Kimmel (Lost)
Nicole Morst (Won)
District 6
Jessie Bastos (Lost)
Adam Cervera (November Runoff Election)
Roberto Fernandez III (November Runoff Election)
Makai Aline Henry (Lost)
Lester L. Wilks Jr (Lost)
District 7
Cynthia Alceus Dominique (Won)
Rochelle "Shelly" Soffer (Lost)
At-Large 8
Sonja Azim (Lost)
Allen Zeman (Won)
Calhoun
District 2
Scott Barton (Lost)
Ray Howell (Won)
District 3
Laurinda Smith Faircloth (Won)
Craig Lipford (Lost)
District 5
Janet Price Edewaard (Won)
Danny M. Hassig (Lost)
Charlotte
District 1
Cara Marie Reynolds
District 4
John Henry LeClair
Citrus
District 1
Thomas Kennedy
District 3
Mike Mullen (Won)
John Thrumston (Lost)
District 5
Joseph "Joe" Faherty
Clay
District 1
Lara Libretto (Lost)
Erin Skipper* (Won)
District 4
Michele Hanson* (Won)
Michael Rathjen (Lost)
District 5
Gerald Beasley (Lost)
Ashley Gilhousen* (Won)
Veronica Powell-Faison (Lost)
Collier
District 1
Jeff Donaldson
District 3
Kelly Mason
District 5
Ford Dalusma (Lost)
Timothy Moshier (Won)
Columbia
District 1
Niki Goswami (Lost)
Narragansett Smith (Won)
District 3
Cherie Hill
District 5
Hunter Peeler
DeSoto
 District 1
 Jami Schueneman
District 3
Asena Mott
District 5
Kelly Mercer
Dixie
District 2
Amanda Mills NesSmith
District 3
John Duane Driggers Jr
District 5
Lucas Jackson Rollison
Duval
District 2
Donovan Bradley (November Runoff Election)
Terence Lavele Myers (Lost)
Donna Mae Westrich (November Runoff Election)
District 4
Alfreda Denson Butler (Lost)
Rhodesia "Rho" Butler (November Runoff Election)
James "Coach" Jacobs (November Runoff Election)
Gracie Bell Kearse-McCastler (Lost)
District 6
Lindsey Denmark (November Runoff Election)
Clarence "CJ" James (November Runoff Election)
Michelle Petty (Lost)
Robert Stafford (Lost)
Tammyette Thomas (Lost)
Escambia
District 1
Erin Toler (Lost)
Kevin Adams* (Won)
District 2
Paul Fetsko* (Won)
Gerald Washington (Lost)
District 3
David Williams I* (Won)
Isaac Williams (Lost)
Flagler
District 1
Cathy Moon (Won)
Jill R. Woolbright (Lost)
District 2
Will Furry* (Won)
Rob Wood (Lost)
District 4
Christy Chong* (November Runoff Election)
Ron Long (Lost)
Trevor Tucker (November Runoff Election)
​Franklin
District 2
Wilburn Ray Messer (Lost)
Vance B. Pedrick (Won)
District 4
Karen Day Ward

Gadsden
District 2
Jefferson Flores (Lost)
Rodney Moore (November Runoff Election)
Tracey Stallworth (November Runoff Election)
Donnie Washington (Lost)
District 3
Leroy McMillan
District 4
Jamel David (Lost)
Charlie Frost (Won)
Gilchrist
District 1
David Biddle
District 3
Raymond Robbins (Lost)
Roy Smith (Won)
District 5
Charlotte Kearney (Won)
D. Deen Lancaster* (Lost)
Glades
District 1
Angie Woodward Hough (Won)
Anita Thielen Sauls (Lost)
District 4
Kimberly Clement
District 5
Patricia Pearce (Lost)
Lauren V. Thompson (Won)
Gulf
District 1
Chad Bailey* (November Runoff Election)
Pamela Palmer (Lost)
Dennis Peak (November Runoff Election)
District 2
Brooke Wooten*
District 3
Lisa Pridgeon
District 5
Ruby Sue Knox*
Hamilton
District 1
Cheryl Deas McCall
District 4
Jamie Bowen Sr (Lost)
Kizzy Burch (November Runoff Election)
Larry D. Ogburn (November Runoff Election)
Timothea Scott (November Runoff Election)
District 5
Menieca Mathis Kennedy (Won)
Sammy McCoy (Lost)
Hardee
District 1
Stacy Sharp
District 3
Marie Dasher
District 5
Mark Gilliard
Hendry
District 3
Amanda Nelson
District 4
Stephanie Busin
District 5
Jon Basquin
Hernando
District 1
Mark Johnson* (Lost)
Dana Lynne Pearce (Won)
District 3
Shannon Lean Rodriguez* (Won)
Luciano Stefan Vignali (Lost)
District 5
Kara Leigh Champion (November Runoff Election)
Amana Rae Cunningham-Rud (Lost)
Susan Duval* (November Runoff Election)
Highlands
District 1
James Jonsten (November Runoff Election)
Chantel Parris (Lost)
Kari Pritchett (November Runoff Election)
District 4
Hilary Hathaway (Won)
Reese E. Martin (Lost)
District 5
Gary Brown (November Runoff Election)
Savannah Casto (Lost)
Andy Tuck (November Runoff Election)
Hillsborough
District 2
Brittany Lyssy (November Runoff Election)
Daniela Simic (November Runoff Election)
Chris Taylor (Lost)
District 4
Patricia "Patti" Rendon
District 6
Kenneth "Ken"  Gay (November Runoff Election)
Karen Perez* (November Runoff Election)
Sally Harris Williamson (Lost)
Holmes
District 1
Jeffrey Amerson (Lost)
Milton (Ted) Wilson (Won)
District 3
Natalie Miller
District 5
Leesa Lee
Indian River
District 1
Ryan Matthews
District 2
Thomas Lange (Lost)
Jacqueline Rosario* (Won)
District 4
Teri L. Barenborg*
Jackson
District 1
Chephus D. Granberry (Won)
Christopher Bryan King (Lost)
District 4
Chris Johnson
District 5
Phyllis T. Daniels (November Runoff Election)
Michael MJ Jackson (November Runoff Election)
Danielle Walker (Lost)
Jefferson
District 2
Jamia Bradley (November Runoff Election)
Donnie Burdick (November Runoff Election)
Miranda Gillyard Gilley (Lost)
District 3
Brenda Bentley Wirick (Won)
Shirley Alexander Washington (Lost)
District 5
Magdalen "Mags" Flynt
Lafayette
District 1
Darren Driver
District 3
Mark Beach (Lost)
Mary Anne McCray (Won)
District 5
Kristyn Folsom (Won)
Ann Murphy (Lost)
Lake
District 1
Pat Kelley (Won)
Eric Schwalbach (Lost)
James Smith (Lost)
District 3
Marc A. Dodd
District 5
Stephanie Luke
Lee
District 1
Sam Fisher (Won)
Jenn McDaigle (Lost)
District 4
Carl Baxter (Lost)
Tony Beougher (November Runoff Election)
Gisele "Gigi" Gentile (Lost)
Debbie Jordan (November Runoff Election)
District 5
Crystal Johnson (November Runoff Election)
Armor Persons (November Runoff Election)
Carline Saintilus (Lost)
At-Large 6
Jada Langford-Fleming (Won)
India Palencia (Lost)

Leon
District 1
James Richard Billingsley (Lost)
Alva Swafford Smith (Won)
District 3
Darryl Eugene Jones 
District 5
Marcus Bernard Nicolas (Won)
James G. Reilly Jr (Lost)
Levy
District 1
Cameron Asbell
District 3
Jaime Handlin (Won)
Tricia Horvath (Lost)
District 5
Devin Whitehurst
Liberty
District 3
Thornton Davis (Lost)
Tommy Duggar Jr. (Lost)
Erica Nobles Smith (Won)
District 4
Melissa Kincaid (Won)
Jason Singletary (Lost)
District 5
Charles "Boo" Morris
Madison
District 1
Katie Knight (Won)
Byron Poore (Lost)
District 3
VeEtta Hagan
District 5
Donnell Davis (Lost)
Michael Maurice (November Runoff Election)
Jonathan Mazzella (November Runoff Election)
Manatee
District 2
James T. Golden (Lost)
Sharon Jefferson (November Runoff Election)
Margi Nanney (Lost)
Cindy Spray* (November Runoff Election)
JT White (Lost)
District 4
Chad Choate*
District 5
Camden T. Bedinghaus (November Runoff Election)
Jonathan Mullis (November Runoff Election)
Chantal Wilford (Lost)
Marion
District 3
Eric R. Cummings (Won)
Steve Swett (Lost)
District 4
Jeff Brewer (Lost)
Mike Mills (November Runoff Election)
Brigitte Smith (November Runoff Election)
Buddy Wyckoff (Lost)
District 5
Donald "Donny" Barber (November Runoff Election)
Ualthan Bigby (Lost)
Sarah James (November Runoff Election)
Martin
District 1
Christia Li Roberts (November Runoff Election)
Cherie White (November Runoff Election)
Charles J. (Chuck) Winn (Lost)
District 3
Jackie Gary Clarke (Lost)
Jen Russell (Won)
District 4
Anthony "Tony" Anderson (November Runoff Election)
Milly Blanco (Lost)
Amy Pritchett (November Runoff Election)
Miami-Dade
District 1
Linda Cothiere (November Runoff Election)
Erhabor Ighodaro (Lost)
Joy L. Jackson (Lost)
Bernard Wh Jennings (Lost)
Thera Johnson (Lost)
Wrendly Mesidor (Lost)
Katrina Wilson (November Runoff Election)
James Wright (Lost)
District 2
Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall
District 4
Roberto J. Alonso
District 6
Maria "Mari Tere" Rojas
District 8
Monica Colucci (Won)
Samuel "Sam" Joseph (Lost)
Monroe
District 1
Theresa Axford (Lost)
Darren Horan (Won)
District 4
Luis Gonzalez
District 5
Chelyn Shaw (Lost)
Sue Woltanski* (Won)
Nassau
District 1
Shannon G. Hogue
District 3
Joe Zimmerman
District 5
Lissa Braddock (Won)
Angel Foster Cole (Lost)
Okaloosa
District 1
*No Qualifiers
District 3
Linda Evanchyk (Won)
Mitch Reed (Lost)
District 5
Brett Hinely (Won)
Cynthia West (Lost)
Okeechobee
District 1
Christina Brennan Bishop
District 3
Melisa Jahner
District 5
Jill Clericuzio Holcomb
Orange
Chair
Alicia Farrant (Lost)
Angie Gallo (Won)
District 1
Melissa Lopez Marantes (Won)
David Shepard (Lost)
District 2
Marisol Lugo (Lost)
Gloria Reina O'Neal (Won)
District 3
Ilia Adorno (Lost)
Diana Moore (November Runoff Election)
Susanne Pena (November Runoff Election)
Osceola
District 1
Greg Filak (Won)
Jay Wheeler (Lost)
District 3
Natalie Guzman (Lost)
Alyssa Noel (Won)
Carl Velasquez (Lost)
District 4
Heather Kahoun
District 5
Paula Bronson
Palm
District 3
Karen Brill
District 4
Tiffany Bryant (Lost)
Dr. Anthony Hamlet (Lost)
Christina L. Romelus (November Runoff Election)
Daniel Zapata (November Runoff Election)
District 6
John McGovern (Won)
Widline Pierre (Lost)
Wanda Rosario-Schoenfeld ​(Lost)
District 7
Edwin Ferguson

Pasco
District 1
Gino Collura (November Runoff Election)
Kimberly D. Coward (November Runoff Election)
Christopher A. King (Lost)
Brian Perras (Lost)
District 3
Matt Geiger (November Runoff Election)
Sean M. O'Flannery (Lost)
Kirk N. Phillips (Lost)
Erin R. Stroupe (Lost)
Mollyanna Ward (November Runoff Election)
District 5
Megan C. Harding (Won)
Michelle R. Mandarin (Lost)
Pinellas
At-Large 2
Lisa Cane (Won)
Nancy Velardi (Lost)
At-Large 3
Curtis Campogni (November Runoff Election)
Dawn Douglas (November Runoff Election)
Dawn Peters* (Lost)
District 6
Nancy Nelis Bostock (Won)
Amanda Lord (Lost)
District 7
Caprice Edmond*
Polk
District 3
Sarah Corona (Lost)
Victor Sims (November Runoff Election)
Kate Wallace* (November Runoff Election)
District 5
Kay Fields* (Won)
Sam Neelam (Lost)
District 6
Kasen Hampton (Lost)
Justin Sharpless* (Won)
District 7
Lisa Miller*
Putnam
District 1
Holly Pickens
District 4
Linda Wagner
District 5
Phil Leary
Santa Rosa
District 1
David Farrow (Lost)
Linda Sanborn (Won)
District 3
Carol Boston (Won)
Kyle Connolly (Lost)
District 5
Marie Locklin (November Runoff Election)
Scott Peden (Lost)
Jill Broxson Teston (November Runoff Election)
Sarasota
District 1
Heidi Brandt (November Runoff Election)
Teresa DeWitt (Lost)
Jimmy Glover (November Runoff Election)
District 4
Frank Dicicco (Lost)
Megan Tennimon (Won)
District 5
Beth Mayberry (Won)
Michelle Pozzie (Lost)
Seminole
District 1
Kristine Kraus* (Won)
Antonio Pizza (Lost)
District 2
Joshua Memminger (Lost)
Holton Mills (Won)
District 5
Autumn Garick* (Won)
Brian T. Newsome (Lost)
St Johns
District 1
Kevin Allen (Won)
Beverly Slough (Lost)
District 3
Jennifer Collins
District 4
Leif M. Jonassen III (Lost)
Tammie McClafferty (November Runoff Election)
Jillian Tozer (November Runoff Election)
St Lucie
District 1
Brian K. Capp (Lost)
Debbie Hawley (Won)
District 3
Donna Mills (Won)
Ben "Zag" Zagrobelny (Lost)
District 5
Charles V. Cerami (Lost)
Troy Ingersoll (November Runoff Election)
Lisa Kessler (November Runoff Election)
Sumter
District 1
Sally Moss (Won)
Leslie Russell (Lost)
District 3
Gerald Loomer (Lost)
David A. Williams (Won)
District 5
Michael Johnson (Won)
Troye Joiner (Lost)
Suwannee
District 3
Clifford Bean (Lost)
Malcolm Hines (Won)
District 4
Edward daSilva
District 5
Aaron Bass (Won)
Ronald White (Lost)
Taylor
District 1
Bonnie Sue Agner (Won)
Liddie Davis (Lost)
District 2
Brenda Carlton
District 4
David Stephens
Union
District 1
Christopher Hodgson* (Won)
Calvin "Cal" Jr Petter (Lost)
District 3
Curtis Clyatt
District 5
Terra Johnson
Volusia
District 1
Brenda Beery (November Runoff Election)
Jaclyn Carrell (Lost)
Jamie Michele Haynes* (November Runoff Election)
District 3
Grace Kellermeier (Won)
Jessie Thompson* (Lost)
District 5
Ruben Colon* (Won)
Dean Condon (Lost)
Wakulla
District 1
Eddie Hand
District 3
Cale Langston
District 5
Laura Lawhon
Walton
District 2
Jenny "J.J." Barton
District 3
Bill Eddins Jr. (Lost)
Gordon M. Porter (Won)
District 5
Jason Catalano
Washington
District 1
Cynthia "Cindy" Johnson Brown (Lost)
Sabrina Woods (Won)
District 4
Will "Tonka" Taylor
District 5
Cheryl Williams