- September 20, 2024
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Signaling that a new direction is desired for the Sarasota County School Board, voters chose two candidates in the Aug. 20 primary who ran on platforms of keeping politics out of school policymaking.
Political newcomer Liz Barker won the District 2 race, and incumbent Tom Edwards was re-elected for District 3.
Barker, a former school psychologist and current PTO member, ran against Karen Rose, the board chair prior to this election, and a former principal and educator. Barker won by a margin of less than 3,000 votes, with Barker receiving 51.49%, (51,739) of the votes to Rose's 48.51% (48,747).
Edwards ran against Gregory Wood, the former executive director of Sarasota Scullers, and Thomas Babicz, a longtime IT manager. In a landslide victory, Edwards won 55.84% of the votes, with Babicz winning 22.48% and Wood getting 21.68%.
The election reduces the board’s conservative majority from 4-1, to 3-2, with the rest of the board composed of conservative members Bridget Ziegler, Robyn Marinelli and Tim Enos.
The outcome of the District 2 race was much closer than for District 3.
"Folks are telling me that it’s a done deal, but it’s certainly been a tight race and a bit of nailbiter," Barker said with 101 of 103 precincts reporting on election night.
Although she said she was surprised at the outcome — but not the close race — she was pleased with what she said it revealed.
"I’m really grateful to be part of this community that cares so deeply about each other and about our schools," Barker said. "This wasn’t a one-man show. It’s a testament to the power of community and kindness."
As of press time, Rose did not return multiple requests for comment on the outcome of the election.
A former school psychologist, Barker is a parent of four young children.
Rose, who was elected in 2020, was an educator within the school district for 30 years, including a principal and executive director of middle schools.
While Barker’s views are aligned more strongly with those of the Democratic Party, Rose aligns more closely with the board’s conservative majority.
Barker has campaigned on the idea of making “the school board boring again.”
She says the current board majority is bringing politics into the school arena, a suggestion which Rose denies and turns back at the other side.
Barker recently told the Observer that this election was particularly important for the district because her children have access to fewer materials and opportunities in schools as a result of the current board’s policies.
“That's what I see, just as a parent living the everyday impacts of the policies that are passed that are very politically motivated, and I would just love to see us shift that decision making process away from politics,” she said. “I do not believe politics have a place in schools or in education one way or another.”
Rose’s campaign has highlighted her educational credentials and experience, and she has emphasized her support for the appointment of Superintendent Terry Connor in 2023, who she praises as offering measurable academic objectives.
“That’s been my focus since I got on the board…” she said. “That's actually the nucleus where everything moves out from there. If you can read at grade level at third grade, your probability of success in all subject areas through 12th grade increases significantly.”
The District 3 race saw Tom Edwards retain his seat, which he has held since 2020.
Edwards has been the lone dissenting member on a board comprised of a 4-1 conservative majority, since a conservative realignment of the board in 2022.
“This is who Sarasota is,” he said of his victory. “I've been saying it for four years. We stand for kindness and respect and dignity for all, and we do not like ugly campaigning, and it showed up in the in the polls, in the ballot box, so I am grateful to the community. I'm grateful for all of the volunteers and the hard work and for being recognized for just quality, authentic, good school board work.”
Edwards has been at odds with his fellow school board members on a variety of decisions, some of which have included the termination of Superintendent Brennan Asplen in 2022, a proposed partnership of the district with Vermillion Education in 2023, and a redrawing of the boundaries within the district boundaries in 2023.
Edwards said in an Observer questionnaire that he thought many district problems could be resolved through more attention to the issue of school vouchers, which he said were reducing funding for the school district.
"I spend a great deal of my time finding ways to make our schools more competitive, more sought after and more appealing to diverse interests," he said in his responses.
In attendance at Edwards' election night watch party was Lillian Williams, a 10th grade student at Booker High School.
"I'm just utterly grateful," Lillian Williams said. "As a student in the public schools, it can be scary knowing that that people behind our schools don't necessarily support us, or who we are as people, so knowing that there's someone on the board who is actively working to make sure what we want as students is getting answered, it makes me feel really happy knowing that."
Edwards' opponents Thomas Babicz and Gregory Wood both voiced more conservative stances on current issues in schools.
Babicz describes his views as "totally the opposite of Tom Edwards" and has strongly supported vouchers.
"This is a special time because the nation is divided like never before, and all the candidates are totally on different end of the spectrum," Babicz had said during his campaign.
At the time, he had also stated, "I don't think there are any enemies in this country. We're all Americans. We have different opinions."
"We want calm. We want peace," Wood said during his campaign. "That's what I want as a parent. Focus on education. No nonsense. Focus on the kids."
In his campaign, Babicz had highlighted topics including the desire to provide higher salaries to teachers and the importance of teaching phonics, while Wood had highlighted topics including the need for exceptional student education.
