Leon School Superintendent Jackie Pons has won his Democratic primary challenge. Pons calls the race a referendum on his job performance, but he still faces several challengers in November.
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Jackie Pons says it’s been the hardest election cycle he’s ever ran in. The superintendent faced a bitter battle with former friend and former Lively principal Woody Hildebrandt, who, along with fellow challenger Rocky Hanna, was partly responsible for disseminating allegations Pons steered contracts to his political donors. Pons has repeatedly denied the allegations and several investigations found no criminal wrongdoing.
Tuesday, an emotional Pons claimed victory.
“Honestly it’s been a long three years with people making a lot of crazy, false allegations," said Pons. "But we battled our way through it. People believe in this system, they know it’s the best system in the state and they’re not going to turn it over to just anybody.”
The primary between Pons and Hildebrandt was fraught with tension. At times Hildebrandt called Pons a "liar". At one point, Pons refused to be in a room with Hildebrandt without security present.
The superintendent recieived more than 60 percent of the vote in the race. Pons says the big showing gives him momentum going into November, where he will face off Hanna, and former school board members Forrest Van Camp and Patricia Sunday.
