MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Four candidates for the Manatee County School Board will be on the ballot on Election Day during a runoff race.
In Districts 1 and 3, no candidate earned more than half of the vote, so now the top two in each race will be vying for the position.
Heather Felton will be up against Mark Stanoch in District 1, and Charles Kennedy will face Jon Lynch in District 3.
Here's what you need to know about the candidates:
District 1
Heather Felton
Felton has been a Manatee County resident ever since she moved in 1997 to work as a reporter at the Bradenton Herald.
Felton describes herself as a "determined moderate," according to her campaign website.
She worked for nine years as a Manatee County teacher, and now volunteers with local education and nonprofit organizations.
Felton states on her website that her experience as a teacher and being a parent within the district for 16 years will allow her to bring knowledge and understanding to the role.
She wants to focus on meeting students where they are, celebrate success and "do no harm."
Mark Stanoch
A New Jersey native, Stanoch has been a resident of the county since 2008.
He holds a bachelor's in psychology from St. Peter's College and pursued graduate studies in Economics, Pure and Applied Statistics and Management Science.
According to his biography on the Manatee County Supervisor of Election's website, his career has spanned over 35 years in the technology industry.
His goal is to make the school district A-rated. To do this the district must focus on reading, math, science and the arts, his website said.
Stanoch also stated students need to learn "basic life skills," and teachers should be provided with resources and the environment to "do their job effectively without distractions."
His other priorities include reforming curriculum policy and providing more financial oversight to the school budget.
District 3
Charles Kennedy
Kennedy has been an educator for 20 years in several states and is currently working at Daughtrey Elementary in Bradenton.
He holds a bachelor's in political science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's in social studies education from Duquesne University.
He previously served on the school board twice from 2014 to 2022. He was the chair twice and vice chair twice also, according to his biography.
Kennedy helped spearhead efforts for additional millage funds to support teachers and staff, which was supported by voters in 2018 and renewed in 2022.
Jonathan Lynch
Jonathan Lynch is a Bradenton native and alumnus of Manatee County High School.
He has two daughters in the school system and has "made it his mission to bring a conservative and common-sense approach to the school board," according to his campaign website.
Some of his priorities include upholding the governor's commitment "to education, not indoctrination," fully funding supplies needed for teachers for their classrooms and expanding technical education programs.
