By Tony Marrero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
BROOKSVILLE — John Sweeney got wet again on Wednesday, but at least this time he was working as a winner.
The first-term incumbent spent part of the rainy day driving around the county in a borrowed pickup, plucking campaign signs from the roadside after a commanding victory in Tuesday's School Board District 1 election.
Sweeney spent most of Tuesday at polling sites, huddled under an umbrella and waving to voters who ventured out in spite of the rain.
"I appreciate everybody, whether they voted for me or not, who came out just to be a part of the process," Sweeney said by cell phone Wednesday as he snagged signs near Deltona Boulevard.
Sweeney and his two fellow incumbents seeking re-election had drawn criticism from residents and their opponents for some past decisions — especially the handling of former superintendent Wayne Alexander's departure — but they were able to overcome any anti-incumbent sentiment.
Sweeney, a former teacher who now owns a wine bar in Spring Hill, took nearly 66 percent of the vote against Nilsa Colon-Toro, a receptionist at Springstead High School.
Fellow board member Dianne Bonfield also won easily over Keane Chapman, a sales manager for a manufacturing company in Brooksville
And veteran board member Sandra Nicholson eliminated one of her opponents Tuesday by taking the most votes — 38 percent — in a three-way race. She will face retired teacher Cynthia Moore in a nonpartisan runoff on Nov. 2.
That means the board will have at most just one new face come January. If Nicholson wins, the status quo would extend until 2012, when the seats of chairman Pat Fagan and board member James Yant will be up for grabs.
Moore spent Tuesday evening at the county government center, watching returns come in with supporters.
When the last precincts showed up on the screen in the commission chambers, "We kind of let out a big yell," Moore said.
Moore attributes her success to a dedicated group of supporters, her vow to keep teachers in the classroom, and some level of name recognition among the education community — she started teaching in Hernando some four decades ago, once led the teachers union and is now a volunteer at Brooksville Elementary School.
During the campaign, Moore and the third candidate, Michael Bainum, a teacher at Hernando High, criticized Nicholson for being out of touch with happenings at the school level. Moore said she is hopeful that Bainum will get behind her in the runoff.
"I think if we work together, I can get in and he'll have a voice on the board through me," Moore said.
Bainum admitted he was a little surprised by his poor showing, but he said during the campaign that he loves his job and is happy to go back to it.
He welcomed Moore's offer.
"I'm definitely in her corner," he said. "I'm still digesting everything, so I'm not sure what that support will entail. But I respect her. I respect Sandy, too."
Nicholson said Tuesday night that she had expected the race to go to a runoff and that she would be one of the candidates.
"I'm tired," she admitted. "I'm going to take a couple of days and get out there and get campaigning again."
Bonfield did not return messages for comment Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The local teachers union endorsed the challengers in each of the races, but those endorsements came without harsh criticism of the incumbents.
Joe Vitalo, president of the Hernando Classroom Teachers Association, said he figures Sweeney, Nicholson and Bonfield benefitted from recent positive developments: The district, though faltering in some areas, earned an overall A grade in the state's accountability system; superintendent Bryan Blavatt has been well received as a steady hand in the wake of Alexander, and the budget came up balanced this year without having to resort to layoffs or other drastic cuts.
One of the biggest factors, from Vitalo's perspective, was that none of the incumbents supported a quarter-mill tax increase this year, while three of the challengers said they favored it or would at least strongly consider the option.
Generally, the current board has been supportive of teachers when it comes time for contract negotiations, but elections tend to add some tension, Vitalo said.
"We have a good relationship," Vitalo said. "The sad thing is, elections make people edgy. Now we can move forward."
Fagan said he was pleased with the results. The current board works well together, he said, able to disagree on issues during a workshop and then have dinner together afterward.
"This shows me the voters have confidence in the present board, and it's great we have an opportunity to work together for a couple more years anyway," Fagan said.
Blavatt's performance and relationship with board members up to this point bodes well, too, Sweeney said.
"I think the board will be an even better board now that we have a new, experienced superintendent," he said. "I'm looking forward to a great four years."
Tony Marrero can be reached at (352) 848-1431 or tmarrero@sptimes.com.