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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.
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