For Manatee County School Board Dist. 3, We Recommend Charlie Kennedy

The Manatee County School Board District 3 race is a non-partisan contest that will feature three candidates: Charlie Kennedy, Jonathan Lynch, and Perri Ann Parkman. If no candidate gets a majority of the votes, the top two will compete in a runoff on the November ballot.

Charlie Kennedy was previously elected to the school board twice. He served as District 2's representative from 2014 to 2022, but redistricting has now placed him in District 3. During his eight years on the board, Kennedy served the community well.

Mr. Kennedy proved to be a refreshingly studious board member who improved each year. Combined with his two decades as an educator, Kennedy simply brings a level of experience to the job that the other two candidates cannot compete with. He knows the district, he knows the schools, and he has an excellent grasp of Florida education policies and procedures. Experience matters.

What’s more, in an age of hyperpartisan politics—which has deeply impacted school board politics despite its nonpartisan policy—Kennedy has demonstrated a strong commitment to avoiding any sort of ideological partisanship. He proved himself to be a board member with a knack for building bridges and a talent for compromise. Kennedy showed up to represent the interests of students, parents, teachers, and the community at large, not a personal political agenda.

The Manatee County School District suffered through a decade of near-constant turmoil, scandal, and largely self-imposed financial distress. Kennedy was a big part of righting the ship. Under the new leadership of Superintendent Jason Wysong, the district is firing on all cylinders and looks poised to turn the corner. This community needs people like Kennedy to provide the required oversight.

A Tiger Bay forum in which all three candidates participated can be viewed here. Our recent podcast with Mr. Kennedy can be played below.