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Everything you need to know about who’s running for Hernando’s School Board

 
Published Aug. 16, 2018|Updated Aug. 17, 2018

More seats than not are contested on the Hernando County School Board this year, meaning local education politics could soon look very different. Or not, considering that two of three races have incumbents vying to keep their spots.

The Aug. 28 primary election comes on the heels of the board's split vote in June to fire superintendent Lori Romano, and ahead of it's decision about who will replace her.

School safety — and how to pay for it — is at the forefront of election issues, as new legislation sparked by a February school shooting in South Florida requires costly security updates for all Florida campuses.

In District 1, incumbent Mark Johnson, chairman of the School Board, faces Spring Hill newcomer Catherine "Kay" Hatch. Read about that race here.

The District 3 race pits schools advocate Jimmy Lodato against past county commissioner Diane Rowden and Julius "Jules" Blazys, a retiree relatively new to the county. Should one candidate win more than 50 percent of the vote this month, that person will win the seat. If not, the two candidates with the most votes will face off in November's general election. Read more here.

In District 5, Brooksville pastor Joe Santerelli challenges incumbent Susan Duval, a longtime principal in Hernando elected to the board in 2014. Here are details on that race.

School Board races are nonpartisan. Members set policy and approve budgets for the school district. They must live in the community where their seat is based, but are elected countywide. They serve four-year terms and are paid $36,276 per year.

Happy voting! Check in with the Gradebook and tampabay.com for election results on Aug. 28.

MORE: Details emerge surrounding Hernando School Board candidate's residency

GRADEBOOK PODCAST: Why the Hernando School Board fired its superintendent

MORE: Romano out. Stratton in. Hernando school officials hire replacement superintendent

Contact Megan Reeves at mreeves@tampabay.com. Follow @mareevs.