The Florida governor’s race is heating up right here on the Suncoast, and both campaigns are betting big that education is the issue that moves voters. On Monday, Erika Donalds, wife of Republican candidate Byron Donalds, met with supporters at Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch to promote the campaign’s plan for a sweeping overhaul of Florida education, from pre-K through college, built around expanded school choice. She told the room that communities have to keep growing and thriving if we want our children to stay in Florida and build their lives here.
Across the aisle, Democratic candidate David Jolly spent the weekend in Sarasota County, where he met with local school board members. Jolly didn’t mince words, saying Florida has a crisis in public education and calling for a statewide conversation about how tourism development tax dollars get spent. His argument: money generated by visitors to our beaches and attractions could be doing more for the schools our kids attend.
Two candidates, two distinctly different visions for the future of Florida schools, and both of them are asking Suncoast voters to weigh in before November. School choice, public school funding, tourism tax dollars, all of it is on the table. So we want to hear from you: which education issue matters most to your family this election season? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s get the conversation going.
