BRADENTON – At the most recent Manatee County School Board meeting, members elected Chad Choate as board chair. Cindy Spray, who was elected to the board in November, was selected as vice chair.
Choate was appointed to fill the seat last August when former member Scott Hopes departed after being named county administrator. In November, Choate was elected by voters to his first full term.
Gina Messenger, now the board’s longest-serving member, cited the new board’s impending responsibility in hiring a new superintendent when Cynthia Saunders retires at the end of the school year and nominated herself for the position.
Immediately after Messenger’s self-nomination, Spray nominated Choate and Richard Tatum, who was also elected as a new member in November, quickly seconded the motion.
At that point, Mary Foreman, who has been on the board for two years, made nominated herself, citing Choate’s inexperience.
The votes were taken in the order they were nominated. Messenger was defeated 4-1, with only her own vote in support. Choate was then elected 3-2, with Messenger and Foreman dissenting. Foreman was also unable to secure a second vote.
Tatum then nominated Spray for vice chair. Spray was elected 3-2 with Messenger and Foreman dissenting.
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