The Marion County School Board District 3 race will be on the countywide primary ballot. Here’s what we know:
About the election
Primary Election Day is Aug. 18. Polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Early voting starts Aug. 8 and runs through Aug. 15. Polls will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The early voting sites:
+ The election center at 981 NE 16th St., Ocala
+ Belleview Public Library, 13145 SE County Road 484
+ Deputy Brian Litz Building, 9048 SW State Road 200
+ Dunnellon Public Library, 20351 Robinson Road
+ Forest Public Library, 905 S. County Road 314A
+ Freedom Public Library, 5870 SW 95th St.
+ Mulberry Center (Liberty Room), 8445 SE 165th Mulberry Lane
+ Reddick Community Center, 4345 NW 152nd St.
+ Silver Springs Shores Community Center, 590 Silver Road.
Mail ballots must be returned to the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
About the races
With the school board races, if no one receives 50% of the votes plus one, then the top two vote recipients will face off in the November election.
According to the Supervisor of Elections Office website, 266,658 people were registered to vote as of Aug. 4. That’s 138,256 Republicans, 66,727 Democrats, 50,956 with no party affiliation, and 10,719 considered as other.
About the position
According to the Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for fiscal year 2025-26, a school board member’s annual salary is $52,021.
School board members serve four-year terms and are elected countywide.
In this race, the Star-Banner asked the candidates questions. Here is what they told us:
Marion County School Board District 3
The Rev. Eric Cummings is presently the District 3 representative. He was first elected in 2018. Cummings is challenged by Steve Swett, whom he defeated in 2022.
Questions and answers for Eric Cummings.
How long have you been on the school board, and can you list some of your accomplishments? I have proudly served on the Marion County School Board since 2018. During that time, I have had the privilege of serving as both chair and vice chair while helping oversee a district that serves approximately 46,000 students, employs more than 7,000 dedicated staff members, operates 64 schools, and manages a billion-dollar budget.
During that time, we’ve stabilized our district after a long period of declining rankings. We’ve focused on getting parents more involved, reducing student absenteeism and truancy, strengthened school safety measures through better partnerships with law enforcement, and supported initiatives to help students recover academically.
I’ve helped keep the board focused on practical solutions — smart spending, backing our teachers, and making sure every decision puts kids first. One thing I’m especially proud of is staying accessible to families. If a parent calls me with a concern, I listen and work to help resolve it.
Why are you running for school board? I’m running because I believe our children deserve the best education possible, and I’m not finished with the work we started.
As a father, grandfather, pastor, and lifelong Marion County resident, education has always been personal for me. I’ve seen the difference strong schools make in families and in our community. I want to continue being part of the team that prepares our students for a changing world through safe schools, real support for parents and teachers, and responsible leadership.
If re-elected, what three things do you want to get done? First, I want to continue strengthening school safety by ensuring every campus has the personnel, resources, and security measures necessary to provide a safe learning environment.
Second, I want to continue investing in our students, teachers, and staff by improving recruitment and retention, expanding career and technical education, increasing academic support, and ensuring every student has opportunities to succeed after graduation.
Third, I want to continue practicing smart financial stewardship by carefully managing taxpayer dollars, planning responsibly for growth, and making strategic investments that directly improve student outcomes.
Why are you the best candidate for the job? Experience matters.
I believe leadership is about service, accountability, and delivering results, and that is exactly what I have worked to do throughout my time on the board. Over the past eight years, I have demonstrated steady, thoughtful leadership during some of the most challenging times in public education.
I understand school finance, district operations, educational policy, and the importance of building consensus while making difficult decisions. My deep roots in this community bring a homegrown and historical perspective to the board.
Beyond experience, I bring integrity, accessibility, and a proven record of putting students first. I don’t approach issues with predetermined conclusions — I listen, study the facts, ask questions, and make decisions based on what is in the best interest of our students and our community.
My background as a pastor and former law enforcement officer gives me a unique perspective on safety, discipline, and bringing people together. I listen to parents, work collaboratively with other board members, and stay focused on what’s best for students rather than politics. I’ve proven I can handle tough times and still move our district forward.
What would you like to see done about growth, as presently some schools are overpopulated? Growth is one of the biggest challenges facing Marion County, and it requires long-term planning rather than short-term fixes.
Growth is also a sign of a thriving community. We need responsible planning — building new schools where they’re needed, using portable classrooms wisely as a short-term solution, and making sure new development contributes fairly to school capacity.
I support looking at creative options like adjusting attendance zones when it makes sense and prioritizing funding for infrastructure so no child is stuck in overcrowded conditions. We have to stay ahead of the growth curve instead of always reacting to it.
If the property tax proposal passes and there are layoffs, what areas are untouchable to you? If reductions become necessary, our highest priority must remain protecting student learning and school safety.
Classroom teachers, school resource officers, instructional support personnel, exceptional student education services, mental health services, and other positions that directly impact students should be protected whenever possible.
Before considering layoffs in these critical areas, I would advocate for reviewing administrative efficiencies, delaying non-essential expenditures, seeking operational savings, and exploring every available option to minimize the impact on students and employees.
Every budget decision should be guided by one question: How is this going to affect students? If we keep students at the center of our decisions, we will make the right choices.
Questions and answers from Steve Swett.
Why am I running? Quite simply the Marion County School District has not done well in the past few years. The district ranks 57 out of 67 in Florida based on Florida State Education Department reporting. The school board has not been proactive in securing funds via impact fees, which got our school district in dire financial position.
My opponent has been on the school board since 2018 and the school district performance or academic standings have not improved and in some cases gotten worse. It is time for a new direction and a new perspective for our Marion County School District.
3 things done if elected? No. 1, Student Proficiency. Every child can learn and succeed with the right foundation and support. Strong focus on early learning. Public reading plan in every school. Clear benchmarks and phonics are needed. Monthly progress monitoring and targeted remedial training at all grade levels.
No. 2, Fiscal Responsibility. Taxpayer dollars must be managed wisely and transparently. Conduct line by line budget review. Eliminate waste and inefficiency. Increase transparency and public accountability. Focus spending on students, teachers and classrooms. Ensure long-term financially stability once we right the financial ship.
No. 3 Absenteeism and early childhood programs. Student success begins with attendance and parental involvement. Promote/insist on regular school attendance. Address chronic absenteeism early and support families facing attendance challenges. Encourage parent engagement and hold parents, students (age appropriate) and the school district accountable.
Why am I the best candidate for the job? I am a product of the public school system. I am veteran of the U.S Air Force, serving from 1966 to 1970 serving in Vietnam and attaining rank of staff sergeant. I graduated from Florida International University in 1974 with a public administration degree. I worked 36 years as an upper USPS manager and am used to making difficult decisions. I am concerned about the present status of Marion County School District and will be a positive agent of change.
What to do about growth? We must deal immediately with the problems we now face as a school district. We are behind on building new schools, even with the new schools finally being built, and we are behind on routine school preventive maintenance, with some estimate as high as $840 million in needed repairs in school district property.
The growth is, has been, and will be with us, and the school district did not plan, manage or react well. The loss of money though having no school impact fees was a major problem. We must make hard decisions on school realignment, resetting boundaries, and get the district back in operational and financial shape. We must make hard and perhaps unpopular choices to improve the district’s performance.
If the property tax proposal passes and there are layoffs, what areas are untouchable to you? Under current proposals the school district money received from property taxes will not be lost if the property tax amendment passes, which it probably will. However, the other state and county revenue and support will be under stress.
We must secure financial responsibility and have a positive action plan as soon as possible. When the time comes, and the property tax issue is resolved, we will need positive two way communication between the school district and the Marion County taxpayers.
The public concerns about taxpayer money and the economic performance of the school board must be heard. Marion County and Marion County School District are facing challenging times. But with the right leadership, we can improve and become an A grade district.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Election preview | Marion County School Board District 3
Reporting by Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner / Ocala Star-Banner
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Austin L. Miller, Ocala Star-Banner | USA TODAY Network
