A Community’s Moment: Jimmy Glover Leads District 1 Race into Historic November Runoff
By Ed James III
A New Era for Sarasota County Schools.
The 2026 Sarasota County School Board elections mark one of the most consequential political and educational transitions in the district’s modern history.
Over the past several years, the Sarasota County School Board attracted statewide and national attention as board meetings increasingly centered on politically charged issues that extended far beyond traditional classroom policy. Debates over immigration enforcement, book challenges, curriculum standards, parental rights, and culture-war issues frequently drew packed meeting rooms and intense public scrutiny, mirroring broader battles across Florida.
Those debates unfolded during the tenure of a conservative board majority consisting of District 1 representative Bridget Ziegler, District 4 representative Robyn Marinelli, and District 5 representative Karen Rose. Together, the three members shaped the direction of the district during an unprecedented period of public contention.
That era is now officially drawing to a close.
Within cumbents Ziegler, Marinelli, and Rose opting not to seek reelection, the 2026 election cycle guaranteed that three of the five board seats would feature entirely new leadership.
Following the decisive outcomes in Districts 4 and 5 during the late summer, the District 1 seat now stands as the final remaining contest to determine the future trajectory of governance across Sarasota County public schools.
The Primary Outcome: August 18 Results Set Up November Runoff
The District 1 race emerged as the county’s most closely watched contest during the August 18 primary election. As the only school board seat featuring a three-way race—between Jimmy Glover, Heidi Brandt, and Teresa DeWitt—District 1 operated under Florida’s election rule requiring a candidate to secure more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright.
When the ballots were tallied on August 18, long-time Newtown advocate and community leader Jimmy Glover finished at the top of the field, capturing 43.5% of the vote (43,772 votes). Heidi Brandt finished second with 31.7% (31,898 votes), while Teresa DeWitt received 24.8% (24,895 votes).
Because no candidate crossed the 50 percent threshold, the election now moves to a high stakes, head-to-head runoff in the November 3 general election between Glover and Brandt.
For Glover, his strong primary showing validates months of grassroots campaigning— and moves him one step closer to making school board history.
A Historic Bid Rooted in Local Action
The longtime Newtown resident, retired United Airlines operations manager, father of four Booker High School graduates, and community leader is seeking to become the fi rs t African American ever elected to the Sarasota County School Board in its more than 100-year history.
“When people see themselves represented somewhere, they’re more likely to get involved,” Glover told Tempo News. “For so long, this community has never seen someone who looks like them on that school board.”
While the historical significance of his candidacy carries undeniable weight, Glover emphasizes that his decision to run was sparked by practical concerns close to home.
“I looked at the literacy scores here in Newtown,” he said. “Even though the county reading rate is around 65 to 70 percent, I noticed the rates were lower here in my community, and I wanted to do something about it.”
That realization became the cornerstone of a platform focused on elevating academic outcomes, restoring public faith in board governance, and ensuring every student graduates with a clear, actionable pathway to adulthood.
From the Airport to the Boardroom Before stepping into the political arena, Glover spent more than three decades with United Airlines, managing complex logistics, leading large diverse teams, and handling high-pressure operational challenges.
He maintains that those corporate skills translate directly to effective school board governance.
“The skills I learned at United Airlines taught me leadership, crisis management and, most of all, how to deal with people,” Glover said. “Those are essential when you’re dealing with families, teachers, administrators and staff.”
Glover believes effective school board oversight requires stepping away from partisan friction and returning to collaborative, accountable administration centered around student success.
A Father’s Perspective
Few aspects of Glover’s campaign resonate as personally as his hands-on experience as a Sarasota parent.
All four of his children attended Sarasota County public schools from elementary through high school, graduating from Booker High School.
“There was one point where I had one child in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school,” he recalled. “I was navigating all of those experiences at the same time.”
Combined with the six years his wife spent teaching in the district, the Glover family brings 56 years of cumulative experience within Sarasota County Schools.
“I was a very involved dad,” he said. “There’s a narrative that fathers aren’t involved in their children’s lives, but I was there every step of the way.”
That experience reinforces Glover’s belief that district guidance must accommodate diverse post-graduation goals starting early in a student’s high school career.
“We have students who want to go into trades, the military, the workforce or college,” he noted. “Every student has different strengths, and we need to identify those strengths by ninth grade so they graduate with a real plan.”
Rebuilding Trust and Focusing on Classrooms Throughout his campaign, Glover has repeatedly highlighted the need to rebuild trust between the school board and local families. He points to controversial board decisions—such as the board’s controversial agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—as actions that fractured community trust.
To make governance more accessible, Glover proposes shifting school board meetings back to 6 p.m.
“When we move the meetings back, we’re showing parents, students and teachers that we want them included in the process,” he explained. “We need to be student-focused rather than political agendafocused.”
On the issue of school vouchers and Florida’s expanding school choice framework, Glover supports parental options but calls for greater accountability and financial transparency so public schools are not unfairly compromised.
He also advocates for a comprehensive, line-item financial audit across all district departments to identify waste and redirect money straight into classroom instruction, alongside proactive efforts to make Sarasota a “destination district” for top-tier teaching talent.
Booker High School and Community Legacy
Glover frequently references former Booker High Principal Dr. Rachel Shelley as an inspiration for his publ i c service, praising her relentless focus on student achievement. As Booker High begins its next chapter under Principal Jamal Crook, Glover pledges full district support to maintain the school’s upward momentum.
When asked how he hopes history will judge his campaign, Glover returns to measurable progress over rhetoric.
“I want graduation rates higher. I want reading scores higher. I want math scores higher,” Glover said. “I want people to say that I really made a difference.”
The Outlook Heading into November 3rd
With the August 18 primary behind him, Glover now enters the final sprint toward the November 3 general election.
As District 1 voters prepare to cast their final ballots between Jimmy Glover and Heidi Brandt, the race represents both a pivotal moment for district governance and a potential historic milestone for Sarasota County.
“People have been asking for change,” Glover reflected as the general election campaign officially hit full stride. “I’m the only dad in the race. I’d be the first person of color on the board. I live in this community, and I want people to know you can work full time, raise a family and still serve your community.”
On November 3rd, Sarasota County voters will decide whether to write that new chapter.
