Note: In the coming weeks before the midterms, I will periodically highlight specific pro-democracy advocates and local political races to better understand the shape and depth of the opposition to the Trump regime and its aggressive supporters. That includes this story from Florida.
There once was a time when school board elections were boring non-partisan events, not exactly the stuff that generated national attention or served as bellwethers of a changing America. But over the last four years, the Sarasota County schools in Florida have been a focal point for the right-wing culture wars, attracting attention for banning books, opposing mask mandates, rejecting LGBTQ+ inclusion and even voting to cooperate with ICE operations.
But in another sign of the rising blue wave and voters’ growing exhaustion with “anti-woke” partisan battles, last week’s election for the county’s school board was won handily by two Democrat-endorsed candidates, both of whom are former teachers, plus a third Democratic candidate who will participate in a run-off race in November. This brings to an end the board’s conservative majority, which was led by a a co-founder of the far-right Moms for Liberty, and possibly years of nasty partisan policies that pitted neighbors against neighbors.
“I really think at the end of the day, regardless of political affiliation, our community was just tired of the culture wars, the political theater and being the center of national attention for all the wrong reasons,” said Megan Tennimon, a former second-grade teacher and lifelong Sarasota resident who won in Sarasota’s District 4.
“What they’ve seen in the last four years, with basically the tabloid happenings on the school board and a lot of the policies and resolutions that were being made, our general community did not agree with,” said Beth Mayberry, a retired math teacher and winner in District 5, whose campaign focused on school funding, arts programming and mental health support. “I think that [voters] realized how destructive those divisive policies really were.”
The third candidate, Jimmy Glover, a 30-year employee of United Airlines and active community member, beat his two Republican rivals. Glover fell short of the necessary 50 percent vote threshold and now advances to a runoff in November. “If he wins, Glover will be the first person of color to serve on the five-member board, which will be fully led by liberals.”
“Like many parents, I grew concerned as I watched our School Board focus more on politics than on students,” Glover explained in his campaign literature. “I didn’t vote for book bans or culture wars, and I realized my family’s values weren’t being represented. I’m running to bring a student-centered approach back to the board.”
Yes, there were conservative wins last week in other parts of Florida, leading Tina Descovich, another Moms for Liberty co-founder and its chief executive, to insist, “Every couple of years someone in the media writes our obituary, and every couple of years parents show up and prove them wrong.”
But in just a few months their chief advocate for “anti-woke” extremism in Florida, term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, will be out of office. And they may just find the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee occupied by David Jolly, who won the Democratic nomination last week and is polling neck-and-neck with Republican Byron Donalds. Jolly is a never-Trump former Republican congressman and television pundit, while congressman Donalds won his primary with Trump’s backing and more than $50 million.
It should be obvious that schools are for expanding knowledge, not creating unsafe and even hostile environments where too many students cannot learn. To that end, it’s critical to elect public servants committed to serving the people, not demonizing vulnerable populations. Here’s to finding optimism and strength in the commitment of Floridians and other Americans to fight back against a hateful Republican agenda.
There are only 70 days until the November midterms.
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Moms for Liberty always struck me as an oxymoron. They are for the felon and his sycophants, who are for anything but liberty. Thank you, Sarasota, for recognizing tyranny when you see it.
Who would have thought Florida would be the poster child for democratic change. Thanks, Steven, for this encouragement from a retired teacher of 41 years in ruby red Indiana. We have, sadly, have followed Florida down the rabbit hole of Heritage Foundation. This is great news for public education and educators everywhere. This is how it is done!