In the race for the Leon County School Board District 5 seat, voters can choose between Marcus Nicolas, the incumbent, and James Reilly Jr., the challenger, each of whom has his own approach to problem-solving.
The race comes at a crucial time for Leon County Schools, as the district faces declining student enrollment and rising operational expenses.
The Leon County School Board comprises five members who serve four-year terms. Board members are responsible for policymaking, budgeting and overseeing the superintendent who is elected.
Nicolas currently serves as the District 5 member and board chair and is running for re-election after nearly two decades in the education sector.
According to Nicolas, one of the district's main challenges is financing, especially amid declining enrollment.
"We are actually finding partners to co-locate in some of our schools to increase our income," he said during a recent candidate forum.
Nicolas added that the board has already begun making necessary changes, such as reviewing various programs and looking for ways to save money.
Reilly, who works in the hospitality industry and is a former regional manager, said his campaign is built on bringing fresh ideas and greater accountability to the district.
"I also feel that we have a very top-heavy school system," Reilly said. "We have more people than we need."
Reilly believes that cutting administrative costs and taking a more aggressive approach to financial matters would make the district more efficient.
The two candidates also differ on how best to address declining enrollment and the potential need for school consolidation. Reilly supports closing or merging underused schools if necessary, while Nicolas has argued that such action would be premature at this time.
Funding has also been a source of controversy. Among the issues raised by the school board are increasing the sales tax for construction and possibly raising property taxes to help fund teacher salaries and student programs. Reilly has opposed raising property taxes, while Nicolas has stressed the importance of continued funding.
Beyond financial concerns, both candidates say their connection to the community drives them; each has children enrolled in Leon County Schools.
"It's important that whoever is elected understands what's really happening in classrooms," said one Leon County parent who asked not to be named. "Decisions made at the top affect everything."
Both candidates were contacted for additional comment; this article is based on publicly available information.
This race will be decided during Florida's primary election on Aug. 18.