Public education is a big winner in Tampa Bay area elections | Editorial
President-elect Donald Trump's historic comeback was the big news from Tuesday's election. But a lot happened locally and around Florida, too.
A few examples:
A handful of well-known politicians — Wengay Newton, Ed Montanari, Charlie Justice, Andrew Warren, Cindy Stuart — from both sides of the bay lost. Where might we see them next?
Nearly 90% of Pinellas voters favored 12-year term limits for county commissioners. Given the overwhelming popularity, will we see more term-limit initiatives in the coming years?
The shift of Hispanic voters toward the Republican Party continued. Can the Florida Democratic Party win them back?
Three other takeaways from Tuesday's election:
Education wins
Tampa Bay area education was a big winner in Tuesday's election — and that's good for everyone.
Hillsborough voters overwhelmingly supported a property tax to help boost pay for teachers and school staff. The additional levy will raise about $177 million a year. The owner of a $375,000 home with the standard $25,000 homestead exemption will pay about $350 annually. The extra money will allow the county to attract and retain good teachers and pay enough to attract bus drivers and other employees who keep the district running smoothly.
The successful vote came just two years after a slim majority shot down a similar tax. But since 2022, the district has made some tough but necessary decisions to close schools and get other parts of its fiscal house in order. The district still has a lot of hard work to do, but the results of Tuesday's election indicate that voters think it's on the right track.
Hillsborough voters also reelected school board member Lynn Gray, another solid decision for ensuring a well-run district. Gray is steeped in education policy, understands the district's challenges, works collegially with other board members and has strong ties to business and governmental leaders. She's good for students, teachers and the district as a whole. Pinellas County voters agreed to double the property tax that supports teacher salaries, arts programs and other student experiences. Initially passed in 2004, voters re-upped the tax every four years. On Tuesday, they voted to increase it from 50 cents to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Pinellas school leaders made a strong case for the increase, assuring voters that most of the money would go to teachers and boasting about the district's recent A-rating from the state.
Pinellas voters also wisely elected first-time candidate Katie Blaxberg to the school board. Blaxberg, facing an opponent backed by the polarizing group Moms for Liberty, articulated a sensible approach to school issues. Given the too-common and often unnecessary culture war battles plaguing school boards in recent years, she refreshingly said she "wants to make school board meetings boring again."
In Pasco County, voters chose John Legg to replace the retiring school superintendent. Legg has the education, experience and insight to keep the growing district headed in the right direction. Public schools are fundamental to a vibrant and well-functioning society. They help produce solid citizens who contribute to the economy and the community. But those schools need enough money and the right people in charge. Tampa Bay area voters chose well on Tuesday.
Florida Legislature: No real choices
They're called elections, but they're not competitive. The Florida Legislature came and went through Tuesday's general election virtually unchanged. For the most part, Democrats kept their seats and Republicans kept theirs. Democrats had targeted eight House seats to flip, needing only five to break the Republican supermajority control. But nearly every incumbent won their seat, meaning Republicans will keep their supermajorities in both the state House and Senate the next two years, enabling them to advance their agenda without much opposition. Republicans have controlled state offices in Tallahassee since Gov. Jeb Bush was first elected in 1998. That partly reflects the impact of gerrymandered seats and special-interest campaign donation. But the result is that Floridians in Democratic and Republican districts alike don't have much of a choice. How is no check on an opposing political party good for Florida?
Hillsborough's sign of confidence
With rising costs for housing, insurance and other everyday basics, the 2024 election largely revolved around pocketbook issues. But Hillsborough County voters opted to dig deeper for another 15 years to fund key public works projects, from improvements to roads and schools to investments in public safety. Voters approved local referendum No. 1, which will provide Hillsborough County and its three cities — Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City — with hundreds of millions of dollars annually for infrastructure projects, including parks, libraries and other big-ticket items. By renewing the Community Investment Tax, with 52% of the vote, residents made an important stake in this region's future, and sent a sign of confidence to people and employers looking to move to the Tampa Bay area. The outcome was a squeaker, but it got the job done.
