School board races are nonpartisan local contests. All registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, are eligible to vote in these races.
The following candidates will appear on the Aug. 18 primary election ballot for Lake and Sumter school boards:
District 1, Lake County School Board
Lake County District 1 primarily covers the north-central portion of Lake County, encompassing areas such as Umatilla, Astor, parts of Eustis and the northern rural areas stretching toward the Ocala National Forest. Board members represent districts but are elected countywide.
In this race there are two candidates on the Aug. 18 ballot: Pat Kelley and Eric Schwalbach. The winner will move to the November general election and face write-in candidate James Smith.
Pat Kelley: Bringing 35 years of corporate finance experience, three decades as a classroom professor and providing leadership as Minneola’s mayor, Kelley emphasizes fiscal conservatism and strict “pay-as-you-go” policies. He advocates for a “developer-funded infrastructure” approach to manage rapid student population growth without burdening taxpayers or accumulating public debt.
Additionally, Kelley strongly supports educational choice, backing a mix of traditional public, charter, private and homeschooling options for families.
Website: pat4lake.com
Eric Schwalbach: A 30-year veteran math educator who has taught and coached across all grade levels, Schwalbach’s platform is heavily focused on student-centered initiatives and workforce development.
He aims to implement ASVAB tutoring for students entering the military, expand peer tutoring, and create a dual-enrollment education program at every high school to build a pipeline of homegrown educators in the county. Schwalbach has pledged to donate his entire school board salary to fund student programs.
Website: voteschwalbach.com
James Smith: Smith is running for the District 1 seat as an official write-in candidate. He will only be on the November ballot.
A Groveland native and retired educator, Smith served as the mayor of Groveland 2004-06 and was notably the city’s first Black mayor. He initially joined the Groveland City Council in May 2000 before later serving as mayor, and has remained active in local civic and community affairs. He is also an Army veteran.
Smith prioritizes student safety, financial transparency and student accountability, and says he is committed to fostering a secure, responsible and trustworthy educational environment.
Website: Profile on Facebook.
District 3 & 5, Lake County School Board
District 3 is located in the central and slightly western parts of Lake County, generally covering Tavares, parts of Leesburg and extending south toward the Clermont area. District 5 covers the northeastern region of the county, including Mount Dora, parts of Eustis, and the areas bordering Orange County.
Incumbents Marc Dodd (District 3) and Stephanie Luke (District 5) will not appear on the ballot. Because they were unopposed, they have already secured their seats.
District 1, Sumter County School Board
District 1 of the Sumter County School Board is a geographical region that primarily covers the northern portion of the county, prominently including areas of The Villages.
Sally Moss: Appointed to the Sumter County School Board by Gov. Rick Scott in 2018 to fill a vacancy and was re-elected, beating Leslie Russell, who is once again her opponent.
She served 12 years as an elected supervisor for CDD #6 in The Villages, where she and her husband have lived for over 20 years, and is a nationally recognized Realtor.
Moss earned the Certified Board Member Designation from the Florida School Board Association, a distinction held by fewer than 35% of Florida school board members. She has also organized the annual Sumter Schools Supply Drive and arranged for telescopes to be provided to district elementary and middle schools.
Website: sallymoss.com
Leslie Russell: A 59-year-old mother of two and a resident of The Villages, Russell initially expressed interest in the school board in reaction to Sumter County school children being either mandated or pressured to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she is against mandatory COVID vaccines.
She supports the educational policies of Gov. Ron DeSantis, but she believes that his K-3 parental rights bill (House Bill 1557) “did not go far enough.” She emphasizes that textbooks and library books must be critically reviewed for inappropriate subject matter.
Russell supports increasing teacher pay to attract and keep the best teachers and advocates for tech/trade education. Photo and website not available.
District 3, Sumter County School Board
District 3 covers the north-central part of Sumter County, comprising parts of Wildwood and The Villages.
Gerald Loomer: Loomer is campaigning on a platform centered on fiscal responsibility and enhancing the educational environment. He says he strives to ensure that district spending directly reflects established educational goals.
To address ongoing staffing challenges, Loomer is a strong proponent of increasing teacher pay to better attract and retain high-quality educators. He is also advocating for greater transparency, aiming to make public information more easily accessible to the community.
Additionally, Loomer wants to increase parent involvement in the district’s operations, proposing initiatives such as live-streaming all school board meetings.
Website: geraldloomerforsumter.com
David Williams: Williams is focusing his reelection campaign on securing more robust funding and support structures for Sumter County schools. His platform advocates for increasing the Base Student Allocation (BSA) by at least 5% and securing more funding for various educational allocations and cost factors.
Beyond finances, Williams is prioritizing student engagement by proposing an enhanced student attendance strategy to keep kids in the classroom. He is also a strong supporter of early education, pushing to fully fund Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs within the public school system to ensure equitable access to early learning opportunities for all families.
Email him at dawilliamsforsumterschools@gmail.com
District 5, Sumter County School Board
District 5 is located in the southern part of Sumter County, encompassing the city of Webster, parts of Bushnell and the surrounding southern rural communities
Michael Johnson: Johnson is running to represent District 5. His focus is on parental rights, school safety, fiscal transparency and teacher retention. His proposed policies include establishing curriculum transparency and parental advisory committees to increase parent involvement in educational decisions.
Johnson advocates for modernized campus security, anti-bullying measures and continued partnerships with School Resource Officers. He proposes “classroom-first” budgeting and open-book finances. Additionally, Johnson aims to improve teacher retention rates by supporting competitive compensation, reducing administrative tasks, and providing dedicated funding for classroom supplies.
Email him at michael.johnson.fsu@gmail.com
Troye Joiner: A lifelong resident of Sumter County and a current public school educator, Joiner’s campaign is centered on the belief that education should focus on the individual student, providing them with the necessary assistance to succeed.
A key aspect of his platform addresses the ongoing issue of personnel recruitment and retention within the district. He advocates for a “grow our own” initiative, which creates a school employment pathway for those who already have ties to the area — such as current students, paraprofessionals, substitute teachers or community members — providing programs and structures that allow local students and community members to transition into roles within the school system.
Email: troyejoiner@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Voters guide for Lake and Sumter school board races
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial | USA TODAY Network
