Latest Headlines
- Living Her Best Life: Childhood Cancer Survivor Cheers Alongside Tate Aggies
- Escambia Commission To Consider Hearings For 12-Month Data Center Moratorium
- Five People, Including Two Young Children, Injured In Early Morning Hwy 97 Head-on Crash
- Florida Hunting, Fishing and Camping Tax Holiday Is Now Through Dec. 31
- Ascend Performance Materials Volunteers Spruce Up The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center
- Bonus Gallery: Tate Cheerleaders,Showband, Fans, And More
- Blue Wahoos Punch Ticket To Playoffs With Ninth-Inning Comeback
- Man Wounded In Early Morning Atmore Shooting Amid Crowd Of Over 500
- Molino Man Sentenced To Community Control, Probation For Breaking Victim’s Jaw Outside Bar
- Labor Day Gas Prices Spike Significantly Over Last Year Across Florida
Elected Or Appointed School Superintendent? Voters Will Decide On Tuesday’s Ballot
August 17, 2026
Should Escambia County have an elected or appointed superintendent? That will be decided by Escambia County voters in Tuesday’s primary vote.
The exact question on the primary election ballot is:
“Shall the superintendent of schools of Escambia County, Florida, be elected by the majority of the qualified electors of Escambia County, Florida? Yes or No.”
The referendum question is on all ballots, regardless of a voter’s party or district.
If it passes, Escambia voters will elect a school superintendent during the November 2028 general election. If it fails, the superintendent will remain appointed by the Escambia County School Board.
In November 2018, Escambia County citizens voted by a narrow margin to move from an elected to an appointed superintendent.
The Escambia County School Board voted 3-2 on February 18, 2025, to place a referendum on the general election ballot to send the question back to voters. The referendum was introduced by District 5 member Tom Harrell, with Harrell, Kevin Adams, and Paul Fesko voting in favor. Board members Carissa Bergosh and David Williams were opposed.
“I feel very strongly about this,” Harrell, who campaigned on a return to an elected superintendent, said at a February board meeting. “The county, I think, feels very strongly. There’s never anything wrong with letting the people decide. When you have a democracy, it’s all about people making decisions.”
“Deep down in my heart, having been here in this district for 60 years, that’s what the people of this district want,” Harrell added. “It’s the right time; it’s the right thing to do.”
Pictured: Current Escambia County School Superintendent Keith Leonard was appointed by the school board.
Comments
10 Responses to “Elected Or Appointed School Superintendent? Voters Will Decide On Tuesday’s Ballot”
Yes, just what we need a politician, that doesn’t know a thing about running a school system.
Never give away your vote. Don’t let a few (five board members) select their puppet.
Never give up on voting. Politics will be involved regardless if they’re elected or appointed.
The way everything is going .Voting is to make people believe
There vote is worth so.ething.But in actuality it’s worth squat.
Because there is no such thing as an honest politician!I bust my but
Everyday trying to make it only to be taxed to death by people
Stealing what I work for! It’s called being a slave!!
For the people by the people not by the click for the click . Don’t give up your right to vote .
This is a double edge sword. As an elected official they will cave to special interest and campaign donors. As an appointed official they do jot have these same pressures
ALWAYS ELECTED ..NEVER GIVE UP YOUR RIGTE TO VOTE..
the excuse of keeping POLITICS OUT OF ELECTIONS IS AN ILLUSION!
Yes, please vote yes. We, the people, are the qualified electors!
Not the school board.
I know the way it is worded might confuse some voters.
YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE
Never, ever give up your right to elect leaders…at any level.