Name: Joanne Hurley
Age: 67
Residence: Land O’ Lakes
Occupation: Pasco County School Board
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: Pasco County School Board member, one term
Office being sought: Pasco County School Board District 2
Why are you running for this office?
Having a good education has enabled me to have a wonderful quality of life, varied job opportunities, and a successful career as an educator. As a school board member, I promote policies and programs necessary for my children, grandchildren and Pasco’s students to have those same opportunities. My educational background, leadership abilities, employment history, dedication to community service, and desire to excel in this role allow me to be an effective board member. This is my passion and fulltime job. I hope to continue working for the betterment of our students and community.
What are your top three priorities?
Promote ways to prepare students for graduation and success beyond high school. We need to continue raising graduation rates and lowering dropout rates. The district must demonstrate accountability through improvement of scores on national and state tests. Through the expansion of our career academies, opportunities for more technology and school choice, we will ensure graduates are prepared.
Adopt a balanced budget. Taxpayers want local governments to shrink costs. The board must demonstrate fiscal accountability and continue setting priorities. Our district has made tough decisions that enable us to build on student success, continue benefits for staff, maintain an excellent bond rating, build new schools and refurbish old ones, and maintain reserves.
Providing funding to retain and hire effective staff. District morale is low and the board must find ways to reward the job our employees do for our students.
Why should voters choose you?
I have a strong educational background and a history of being an effective leader in education and in our community. Having served in leadership roles on the boards of many civic and charitable organizations and citizens advisory committees has prepared me to serve effectively on the school board. I listen to others, seek information and discuss issues with those who have differing viewpoints. I respond to citizens who may disagree with the board’s policies, practices or procedures. I am very active, involved, accessible and accountable to the community.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
With a B.S. and M.A. Degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Certification, I have spent nearly three decades involved in classroom and/or public education. Because of a strong work ethic, I have experience as a small-business owner, and I have been successful in my private and public sector employment. Since my election in 2008, serving on the school board has been my passion and fulltime job. During my first term on the board, I fulfilled the requirements to become a Certified Board Member of the Florida School Board Association. I served one year as our board’s vice-chair and two as chairwoman.
Name: Don Stephenson
Age: 41
Residence: Land O’ Lakes
Occupation: creative director
Political affiliation: nonpartisan office
Political experience: none
Office being sought: Pasco County School Board District 2
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because I feel my district needs more principled representation than it currently receives. Voters did not get the responsible leader they had hoped for when they elected my opponent four years ago.
What are your top three priorities?
1. Providing solutions to our massive deficits. There are ways to make real, lasting cuts in spending which do not rely on temporary, Band-Aid fixes. I support a zero-based budget process where each expenditure is justified starting from scratch, rather than using previous years’ numbers.
2. Ensuring we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. It is imperative that our elected officials recognize it is the private sector which generates revenue for local government. When the private sector is hurting it is irresponsible to turn to them to solve our fiscal problems. Governments need to learn to live within their means.
3. Addressing problems associated with FCAT. Our board can and should join the many school districts who have adopted resolutions decrying Florida’s over-reliance on high-stakes testing. Such a quick snapshot is an ineffective way to gain an accurate measurement of how a student is doing throughout the year.
Why should voters choose you?
First, I am the only candidate who refuses to accept campaign contributions from unions or other special interests. Bias will have no place in my service to Pasco. I am also the only candidate who actually brings fiscal solutions to the table, which should be the price of entry for anyone who wishes to serve in this economic climate. And if elected, I would be the only board member with children currently attending Pasco schools. My children are my vested interest.
What qualifications do you bring to the job?
As a 17 year advertising industry veteran, I have successfully navigated a career that depends solely on innovative thinking. I regularly lead teams of writers and art directors to create original ideas and to execute those ideas with attention to detail and craftsmanship. I also work within strict budgets, some large and some small. I believe that several years of learning to think outside the box, and to do so often times with little resources, makes me uniquely qualified to serve on our school board. Additionally, I am the parent of children currently attending Pasco schools, which ensures that our students will always be top-of-mind. Lastly, I do understand the proper role of government. I will always err on the side of more local and state control of how we educate our children.
