Ziegler leads Sarasota School Board sweep

Incumbent School Board member Bridget Ziegler led the way Tuesday night, winning reelection in a sweep of conservative candidates to the five-member board.

With 99 of 99 precincts reporting, Bridget Ziegler was reelected into the District 1 seat over Dawnyelle Singleton. Ziegler has held the seat since 2014. 

"The community has spoken and it is crystal clear; they are demanding a reset of the School Board, and that’s exactly what they are going to get," Ziegler wrote in a statement. "Taxpayers will be appreciated. Parents will be respected and involved. Teachers will be respected and supported. Kids will be protected and served. And our school district will get the focus back to our mission: educating our children."

Singleton expressed pride in her campaign even while facing disappointment in the loss. 

"I will continue to fight for the children, teachers and school communities of Sarasota County," she wrote in her statement. "My hope is that the new school board elects and Bridget Ziegler do the right thing for all of the children in Sarasota County."

Robyn Marinelli was selected over her opponent Lauren Kurnov for the District 4 seat, taking over the seat vacated by Shirley Brown. 

"It's surreal," Marinelli said. "I'm overwhelmed by the support. I think of my parents, who are both deceased, and I know they would be so proud of me."

"Our campaign focused on student success and how to help our kids have a bright future," Kurnov wrote in her statement. "We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but I am proud of the campaign we ran and want to thank the many volunteers and supporters who helped spread our positive message."

Timothy Enos was elected as the District 5 representative over Nora Cietek in the seat vacated by Jane Goodwin.

"I'm humbled these people have had the trust in me to come out and put me on the school board," Enos said. "I'm ecstatic and exhausted."

Elected candidates will serve four-year terms on the board, which consists of five members. 

Although non-partisan, Ziegler, Enos and Marinelli drew backing of not only the local Republican Party but also that of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who campaigned and supported like-minded school board candidates statewide.