Nine candidates have qualified to run for two vacant seats on the Pasco County School Board, marking the largest number of hopefuls in years. The current board has experienced minimal turnover over the past twenty years, primarily through retirements rather than contested elections. Unless a candidate secures more than half the vote in the August 18 primary, the top two vote-getters in each race will advance to a November general election. In District 1, four candidates are vying for the seat previously held by Al Hernandez, with Gino Collura emerging as an early front-runner despite never having run for public office before. District 3 features five candidates seeking to replace incumbent Cynthia Armstrong, including veteran educator Sean O’Flannery and newcomer parent activist Erin Stroupe. The District 5 race involves only two candidates: incumbent Megan Harding seeking her third term and challenger Michelle Mandarin. All positions are nonpartisan and elected by voters across the entire county regardless of party affiliation.
Nine Candidates Compete for Two Pasco County School Board Seats in Upcoming Primary Election
