Elected vs. appointed superintendent back on ballot. Here’s when
Pensacola News Journal | By Mollye Barrows | April 2, 2026
Escambia County voters will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to switch from an appointed school superintendent to an elected one during the August 2026 primary election.
Despite pushback from the community, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners agreed to direct the Supervisor of Elections to place the issue on the primary ballot, per the Escambia School Board’s request, with all but Commissioner Lumon May voting for the motion.
The board voted 4 to 1 to place the issue on the ballot for the Aug. 18th primary election.
Several people spoke to the board prior to the vote asking commissioners not to approve the motion.
Instead, they wanted to see the issue placed on the ballot for the general election on Nov. 3 because it draws a significantly higher turnout compared to primaries, especially younger and minority voters.
“School referendums belong on the general ballot. That’s where the full community is present,” said Craig Jones. “Research shows ballot placement is not just procedural. It determines who gets counted, whose voices matter and whose do not.”
Some speakers said the decision should be made by a broader electorate including many independent voters, parents and young people.
Others questioned why the issue of an elected versus appointed superintendent was being placed back on the ballot at all.
“It is very disappointing that in addition to trying to switch back to including politics in our school system, the school board wants the referendum put on the August primary ballot instead of the general ballot in November,” said retired schoolteacher Lily Eubanks. “It is well known that turnout in midterm primaries is very low compared to the general election, especially in closed primaries states like Florida.”
The concerns were similar to those raised by community members prior to the Escambia School Board’s 3-2 vote to put the issue on the primary election ballot instead of in the general election.
May echoed the same sentiments as the school board members who voted against placing the issue on the primary ballot and questioned the motivation behind the decision.
“There’s without a doubt that this will probably be the most contested governor’s race in November in recent history,” said May. “Taxes will be there. We will have the most citizen participation in the general election and it will not be in the primary election. Unfortunately, that seems to be politically motivated to put it in the primary when we have the least amount of votes.”
May questioned if the board could reject the school board’s request and put the issue on the ballot in the general election.
Escambia County Attorney Alison Rogers said she reached out to the Florida Attorney General’s Office in October 2025 when the issue came up before to determine if commissioners could place it on the general election ballot instead, but she has not received an answer.
“We did specifically reach out to the opinion section and inform them after we sent it to them that a drop-dead date would be the last day of March because we were really trying to make sure we were protected in the event we were going to put this on the primary ballot,” Rogers said. “They said they would do their best, but we have not received any additional communications from them that I am aware of. My advice to you from a legal perspective would be to do as requested by the school board.”
The other members of the board agreed to support the school board’s request.
“Our venue in my opinion is not the venue where the argument really lies in the sense that this is something the school board talked about multiple times,” said Commissioner Steven Barry. “That would have really been the opportunity to advocate for your position and to state your case.”
