City Commissioner Scott Maddox has dropped his bid for Leon school superintendent but another of incumbent Jackie Pons’ political foes, is picking it up. Woody Hildebrandt has confirmed he’ll challenge Pons in a Democratic primary for the superintendent job.
Hildrebrant filed for whistleblower protections for his role in the distribution of what’s now called “the notebook”—a list of documents circulated three years ago alleging Pons steered lucrative construction projects to political donors. He was arrested last year and fired from his job as principal of Lively Technical school and is facing charges he stole materials and manipulated employee time sheets for work done at his home. The case goes to trial in October.
Hildebrandt told WCTV, "it was important to him that incumbent superintendent Jackie Pons not run unopposed."
Former Leon School Superintendent Rocky Hanna, who also filed for whistleblower protection, is still in the race as a no party affiliated candidate, and so is former school board chairman Forrest Van Camp—who lost his re-election bid two years ago after the accusations against Pons became public. Van Camp is running as a Republican.
