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Candidate Profile: James Golden

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Incumbent Manatee County School Board member James Golden is seeking a second term in the District 5 seat. He faces two challengers. The non-partisan race will be on August's primary ballot.

Golden, a Jacksonville native and former pastor at Bradenton’s Ward Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, served in the U.S. Army before earning his undergraduate degree from Stetson University. Golden then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Florida in 1974.

Upon graduation from law school, Golden became a member of the Florida Bar, practicing until he earned his Master of Divinity degree and left law to pursue a career as a pastor. Golden was elected to terms on the Bradenton City Council in 1999 and 2003. While serving, he was instrumental in the creation of the Central Community Redevelopment Area.

A seasoned politician, Golden first challenged for the school board in 1998, losing to Barbara Harvey. In 2010, he unsuccessfully challenged Vern Buchanan for his Congressional seat. In 2012, Golden made a run at the Manatee County Commission District 5 seat, losing to Vanessa Baugh, and in 2016 he came up short against Joe Grueters for the District 73 Florida House seat.

Golden has been a close ally to Manatee County Superintendent Cynthia Saunders and is arguably the most pro-administration member of the board. As such, his bid for reelection might be seen as a referendum on the current administration.

Golden has been endorsed by the Gulfcoast Builders Exchange, Manatee Education Association (teacher's union), and former school board members Jane Pfeilsticker and Barbara Harvey.

With $24,478 in campaign donations as of the last reporting period, Golden has far outraised his two opponents, Richard Tatem and Chantel Wilford.

Golden was the guest on the most recent episode of The Bradenton Times podcast in which he discussed his platform and record. Click here to listen.

School board races are conducted on the August ballot. If no candidate receives a simple majority (50% + 1) of votes in the August race, the top two vote-getters go to a runoff election on the November ballot.

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