{"id":202473,"date":"2026-03-23T14:43:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202473\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T14:43:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:43:08","slug":"some-candidates-for-hillsborough-school-board-agree-superintendent-should-not-be-an-elected-position","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202473\/","title":{"rendered":"Some candidates for Hillsborough School Board agree superintendent should not be an elected position"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hillsborough(L-R) Ken Gay, Chris Taylor, Daniela Simic, Sally Harris Williamson, Karen Perez at Cuban Club in Ybor City, Florida on March 20, 2026.= Credit: Chris Young \/ WMNF News<\/a><\/p>\n

Candidates running for the Hillsborough County School Board gathered at the political forum Tampa Tiger Bay Club Friday.<\/p>\n

Candidates running for Districts 2 and 6 seats discussed issues such as book removals, safety, and teacher pay.<\/p>\n

They were also asked about their stance on making the Hillsborough superintendent an elected position rather than appointed by the school board.<\/p>\n

A bill, which has passed the legislature and awaits DeSantis\u2019 signature, would put the question on the November ballot.<\/p>\n

The bill\u2019s sponsor says it would create added accountability.<\/p>\n

But when asked, all candidates disagreed with the idea.<\/p>\n

This story first appeared at WMNF News<\/a>, which is part of the Tampa Bay Journalism Project (TBJP), a nascent Creative Loafing Tampa Bay effort supported by grants and a coalition of donors who make specific contributions via the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation<\/a>. If you are a non-paywalled Bay area publication or donor interested in Tampa Bay Journalism Project<\/a>, please email rroa@ctampa.com<\/a>. Support WMNF News by visiting the community radio station\u2019s support page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chris Taylor is a candidate for District 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you think it was ridiculous if we decided that the CEO of Tampa General had to be elected and be a politician? No. But can you imagine, if we said, now you\u2019ve got to go and spend 60% of your time, every fourth year, and you can\u2019t be running your hospital, and you\u2019re going to have to go and raise money.\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

Daniela Simic, candidate for District 2, held the same stance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need someone who understands what it\u2019s like to go through that, to be an educator, to be a school leader, to be a district leader. And having a politician \u2013 someone that may not have experienced that \u2013 would likely not be a good decision for the school district.\u201d Simic said.<\/p>\n

District 2 candidate Brittany Lyssy was not in attendance.<\/p>\n

Karen Perez is the current chair of the school board, running for District 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you elect a superintendent, put that on the ballot, the superintendent will be more focused on getting re-elected than he is on the students, on the district, on the progress of the schools,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n

Sally Harris Williamson is a candidate for District 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a superintendent, who should be running our schools, is out there trying to run for office, at least one year of his time in the position, will be trying to get re-elected.\u201d Williamson said.<\/p>\n

Ken Gay, a candidate for District 6, also spoke against the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think our buildings \u2013 there\u2019s too much of a mix of politics in the buildings, we need more professionalism, and that comes with a wise superintendent that has a background in education.\u201d Gay said.<\/p>\n

The election is in August.<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in Mar. 19 \u2013 25, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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