Exclusive Coverage Of The 2020 School Board And Superintendents Races To Be Provided by The Pineapple Report

PineApple Report | June 18, 2020

As a special feature of the Pineapple Report, we will be providing updates and information on the 2020 elections in the State’s school board and superintendents races. Now that the qualifying period is over, we have a picture of the candidates who will be on the ballot for the upcoming election primaries on August 18. This election year promises to be one of the most contested elections in decades. It appears that an enlightened and motivated group of new candidates have been inspired by the global pandemic, economic impact and the need for “new” leadership, needed as we traverse through these uncharted waters.

As of Friday, the end of the qualifying period, there are a total of 319 school board candidates who submitted all the required documents. In Florida all school board races are nonpartisan and are staggered in 4-year terms with elections occurring every two years.

There is a grand total of 358 elected board members in Florida. The qualifying incumbents and newly minted candidates are vying for 155 school board seats that are up for grabs. Of the 155 board seats up for election, 53 incumbent board members were re-elected, four new board members were elected without opposition and 31 incumbents chose not to seek reelection or decided to vacate their seats. Therefore, voters will be electing 98 school board members between the August primaries and general elections.

In Florida superintendents’ elections happen every four years, same as the presidential elections. There are a total of 67 superintendents, one for every county. As of the end of the qualifying deadline there were total of 85 candidates vying for 38 elected positions up this year.  Ten superintendents and one governors’ appointed candidate were elected without opposition as of Friday. So voters will be deciding the fate of 27 superintendents between the primary and general elections.

So these elections will surely bring about opportunities to hear from these candidates along with plenty of campaign season mudslinging and political maneuvering. The Pineapple Report hopes to bring our readers with news and exclusive information on these races leading up to the primary and general elections.

Stay tuned….