Florida’s School Superintendents have had a rough election cycle this year with several incumbents losing their primaries. Lynn Hatter reports a similar trend unfolded in Florida’s capital region where there was a 50 percent turnover between four districts.
More than 83 percent of Leon voters incumbent superintendent Jackie Pons over challenger, Sabrina M. Allen. Over in Gadsden County, incumbent school superintendent Reginald James coasted to re-election over his challenger Millie Forehand. But the results were different for Jefferson County, where incumbent superintendent Bill Brumfeld, lost his re-election campaign.
“I’m disappointed because I really felt that I worked so hard in the community to get this thing going, but that’s okay. The good Lord had a better plan for me," Brumfeld said.
When Brumfeld was first elected four years ago the school district was bankrupt. Brumfeld got the districts books in order. But he also had to layoff teachers and he made a controversial move to close the district’s only charter school, which was rated as an F by the state. Meanwhile, Wakulla County will also get a new superintendent in Bobby Pierce, who will replace David Miller who is retiring.
