By Tom Marshall, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
TAMPA — Two-term incumbent Jennifer Faliero appeared headed for defeat Tuesday night in a hotly contested primary election for Hillsborough County School Board.
She will be replaced in the District 4 seat in eastern Hillsborough by either Valrico pharmacist Stacy White or former school principal Richard Bartels. They will face each other in a runoff in the Nov. 4 general election.
Faliero, who struggled under the weight of more than $53,000 in credit card debts this spring, said family health problems contributed to her missing board meetings, which became a campaign issue. She could not be reached by telephone, but conceded the race in a statement on her Facebook page.
"I want to thank everyone for their belief in and support of me over the past 8 years," she wrote. "I am publicly endorsing Stacy as he moves forward and hope you will also consider him when you vote in November."
With more than 90 percent of the precincts counted, incumbent April Griffin was falling just short of the majority vote required to win her county-wide District 6 race outright. She will face either childcare center owner Sally A. Harris, who was getting around 20 percent of the vote, or family values and anti-gay marriage activist Terry Kemple, who had 19 percent. Benjamin Todd Fink trailed the field with 12 percent.
And in District 2 representing South Tampa and southern Hillsborough, Candy Olson cruised to a fifth term on the board with more than two-thirds of the vote. She defeated University of South Florida graduate student Frank Hernandez, who had support from parents opposed to early-release days in the school district.
"I think I became a target for people's frustration for a lot of things that I think don't have much to do with teacher planning time," Olson said, describing that ongoing debate. "I think there are a lot of parents who are concerned, many of whom just want to understand and figure out how to do it better."
But Faliero's departure from the board was the night's clear upset. The 47-year-old incumbent faced strong criticism from Bartels for what he described as excessive absenteeism from board meetings, and other challengers said she was disconnected from her constituents.
White was leading the field with more than 36 percent of the votes, while Bartels had garnered 30 percent. Faliero earned 27 percent, and Kirk Faryniasz trailed the group with nearly 6 percent.
"I think that people are looking for an outside viewpoint, a fresh set of eyes, a professional from the community to sit on that board," said White, 38. "And not necessarily someone who has been entrenched on that board for a long time."
The 61-year-old Bartels, who could not be reached for comment, has campaigned on his record as a former Hillsborough teacher and principal at King and Freedom high schools. He earned the endorsement of the district's teachers' union.
But with the votes still being counted Tuesday night, White — who said he aimed to serve as a check on both the board and superintendent MaryEllen Elia — was already taking aim at his opponent's credentials.
"I respect his record," said White. "But I just can't help but think the majority of voters out there look at him as an insider."
Tom Marshall can be reached at tmarshall@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3400.