Pasco County School Board member Megan Harding claimed a dominant win her bid for a third and final term in office in Tuesday’s primary election.
Two other seats remained up for grabs, with no candidate claiming a majority of votes in their crowded fields.
In the race for District 5, representing Northwest Pasco, Harding led by 44 percentage points with all precincts reporting. She faced a challenge from parent activist Michelle Mandarin, who also ran for district superintendent two years ago.
Harding based her race on her record as a board member and her experience as an teacher, stressing the importance of having someone who understands education on the board.
Mandarin positioned herself as someone who would ask more difficult questions of the administration, suggesting the board too frequently acts as a rubber stamp. She abandoned the political hard line, including many culture war issues, that marked her superintendent campaign.
Her supporters took Harding to task during the campaign for supporting a staff decision to allow a bus driver accused but not charged with child abuse to keep his job.
“I am incredibly grateful to the people of Pasco County for once again placing their trust in me,” Harding said. “Tonight’s landslide victory is a strong affirmation of the work we have done together, the progress our schools have made, and the belief that putting students, teachers and families ahead of politics matters.”
The two other seats are headed to runoffs in November. Each drew a large number of hopefuls seeking to replace retiring incumbents, with no one achieving the majority needed to avoid another election.
In District 3 representing south-central Pasco, private school administrator Matt Geiger and real estate agent Mollyana Ward were leading the five-candidate field, putting them on track for the Nov. 3 runoff. The winner will replace Cynthia Armstrong, who held the post for 16 years.
In District 1 representing east Pasco, candidates Kimberly Coward, a lawyer, and Gino Collura, a business consultant, led the four-person race to replace Al Hernandez. Both previously worked for the Pasco school district.
With two new members, the incoming board is expected to have a different working dynamic as it approaches several issues on its plate.
The district aims to continue its positive trajectory in improving student outcomes, a year after earning its first overall A grade from the state in more than a decade.
The board will deal with subjects like controlling student screen time and setting rules for using artificial intelligence.
At the same time, Pasco must confront population trends that it has not seen in years. Once one of the state’s fastest growing counties, the district is seeing enrollment declines due a combination of shrinking birth rates and rising participation in education alternatives.
Board members will have to make decisions on closing or merging schools, changes to bus routes and other aspects tied to population shifts.
Another key issue is a November property tax referendum and what to do if it does not succeed.
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