BREAKING: Governor DeSantis Endorses Rob MacCallum and Kevin McDonald for School Board
Mr. MacCallum and Mr. McDonald react.
Late yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis endorsed 22 school board candidates in the state of Florida expanding his original list of 14 targeted races he released in 2023. Included on that 2023 list, were Peggy Jones and Brian Barefoot. Locally he endorsed Rob MacCallum in the district 3 race over Dr. Jones because of her continued support for “woke ideologies.” Dr. Jones latest support was against the Title IX Resolution passed at the school board. Her vote sided with the new Biden Administration rules that include ‘gender identity’ definitions of sex that discriminate directly against female students’ education opportunities.
Reached for comment, Rob MacCallum said, “I am incredibly honored that Governor DeSantis has put his faith in me to lead our district.”
In the other race, Kevin McDonald was endorsed by Governor DeSantis as well. In April, Mr. McDonald was appointed to the seat after Brian Barefoot abruptly resigned from the school board. A Republican, Mr. Barefoot was also targeted by Governor DeSantis. When Mr. Barefoot resigned, he suggested that the candidate he hand selected, David Dyer, be appointed to his seat. Since entering the campaign, Mr. Dyer has endorsed Dr. Jones.
Reached for comment, Mr. McDonald said, “The greatest Governor of the greatest free state of Florida appointed me to our School Board. He now has graciously given his endorsement to my campaign and also to Rob MacCallum's campaign.”
Mr. MacCallum and Mr. McDonald have shared their visions that closely align with Governor DeSantis Education Agenda he ran on in 2022 and his universal school choice principles he restated at the RNC convention speech given Tuesday evening. After Governor DeSantis was re-elected in a crushing 20-point victory, school choice legislation became his first priority at the Florida state house in 2023. The Florida Department of education states on their website, “On March 27, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill (HB) 1, which expands available school choice options for all students in Florida. The bill eliminates financial eligibility restrictions in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program while still prioritizing awards to students with household incomes that do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level and incorporating a second priority to award scholarships to students who live in households with incomes between 185 percent of the federal poverty level and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.”
Mr. McDonald added, “The three of us are passionate about educating and protecting our children, and about protecting parents' rights to guide and decide their children's education. We want to keep and encourage our exceptional teachers with compensation, but also trust and respect them in their classrooms. And we want all to have transparency into our schools.”
Voting has started in Florida. Absentee ballots were mailed out last week. Early voting begins August 10th leading to the local election day on August 20th.
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