Race Analysis: Manatee County School Board, District 2

The Manatee County School Board District 2 runoff features former Bradenton City Councilman Harold Byrd and Vice-Chair of the Manatee School District Citizens Oversight Committee, Cindy Spray, in a non-partisan race.

While school board races are officially non-partisan, this race boils down to polemic ideological differences between two qualified candidates. Spray is one of three Manatee School Board candidates this cycle to receive an "endorsement" from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a plug that was offered to some Republican candidates but only after they signed what amounted to a loyalty oath to the Governor’s agenda.

An Indiana native, Spray attended Indiana University where she studied psychology before transferring to Indiana Business College to study accounting. From a career in bookkeeping, Spray later moved into the manufacturing sector with PepsiCo at Frito Lay, where she worked in purchasing, logistic maintenance, manufacturing maintenance, and payroll.

Spray has demonstrated tremendous dedication to serving the community both in voluntary roles within the district and as the Vice President of the Manatee County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, as well as a board member of Guardian Angels of Southwest Florida.

Byrd served five terms on the Bradenton City Council, representing Ward 5 until vacating his seat in an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Bradenton in 2020. As a councilman, he earned a reputation as a collegial public official who engaged in civil debate while remaining open to the ideas of others, even when they held significantly different ideological beliefs.

A graduate of Southeast High School, Byrd holds a law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from Eckerd College with a concentration in public policy and public administration. He is a Manatee County native whose mother, Ruby Byrd, previously served on the Manatee School Board in the same seat. Both of his parents served as educators in the district and Byrd himself has been serving as a full-time sub for the district's alternative school, Horizons Academy.

As a nearly lifelong resident of the district, he has deep ties to the community and likewise sports an impressive record of community service. He has been the Executive Director of the Harold E. Byrd, Sr. Educational Foundation since 1998 and serves on the Bradenton CCRA Advisory Board. He is a former member of the United Way of Manatee County Board of Directors, the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board of Directors, the Manatee Council on Aging Board of Directors, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, and the Vice-Chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

This race essentially comes down to one thing and that is whether or not you agree with Governor DeSantis and the right-wing of the GOP’s belief that public education is under attack and requires a top-down defense via foot soldiers on the local level. If so, Spray is an ideal candidate and would be the third DeSantis endorsee on the board. If you want a less ideological, more localized approach to public education from a Manatee County native with an exemplary record of service, Byrd should earn your vote.

Byrd was recently a guest on The Bradenton Times Podcast. Click here to access the episode. Spray did not accept our invitation to be a guest.