Leon County School Board District 5
Type of race: Non-partisan
Who can vote: Only voters who reside in the boundaries of Leon County District 5 in central and northwest Tallahassee can vote for the candidates.
What’s next: The winner will be sworn in on November 17, 2026.
How much does this position pay: $48,174
Marcus Nicolas
Age: 44
Profession: President of ESPMedia
Qualifications: “I have nearly 20 years of experience as an educator in the district: teaching, developing student-centered programs, and championing policies that improved district outcomes.”
Website: vote4nicolas.com
Q: What is one issue facing Leon County Schools that isn’t getting enough attention and how would you address it?
A: One issue that isn’t getting enough attention is whether our students are truly prepared for life after graduation. By 2031, more than 70% of Florida jobs will require postsecondary education or specialized training, yet many students still lack access to the guidance and resources needed to pursue those opportunities. To address this, I developed dual enrollment courses focused on resilience, persistence, and communication and led the creation of the district’s first College and Career Center. Now, I am working to expand this model to additional schools so every student has a clear pathway to success after graduation.
Q: What do you believe is the single biggest difference between you and your opponent and why should voters choose your vision for Leon County Schools?
A: What sets me apart is a proven record of creating opportunities that produce results. Beyond my experience as a teacher, administrator, and community leader, I founded a community initiative that has secured more than $150,000 in grants and helped increase financial aid completion rates for Leon County students. That same collective was the catalyst behind establishing the district’s first high school College and Career Center. Recognizing that student success depends on strong workforce, I commissioned Leon County Schools’ first compensation and classification study in 28 years. Voters should choose my vision because I deliver results for students, families, and employees.
James Reilly
Age: 55
Profession: Site Operations Manager for Tailwind Concessions at Bobby Bowden-TLH International Airport
Qualifications: “I am a proud graduate of Godby High School and have lived in Tallahassee since. My strengths in team building and ability to make and run budgets make me uniquely qualified for this position.”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/james.reilly.726112
Q: What is one issue facing Leon County Schools that isn’t getting enough attention and how would you address it?
A: The issue that is not getting enough attention is the disproportionate number of executive staff to students and pay to teachers subsequently. I continue to hear in school board meetings that if want to see what is important to someone, look at their checkbook. Based off LCS checkbook it definitely isn’t teachers. It can be remedied by eliminating extra executive positions and moving those funds to paying teachers and support staff.
Q: What do you believe is the single biggest difference between you and your opponent and why should voters choose your vision for Leon County Schools?
A: The biggest difference between myself and my opponent is that I will have a full commitment to open transparency while serving on the school board. Unlike some on the current board and Superintendent that continue to talk about transparency, since I have entered the race, I will be as transparent as legally possible without being concerned about whether or not I will be reelected based off this. There is no question on whether I have a conflict of interest and will serve with integrity.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County School Board District 5 voter guide
Reporting by Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
