Bradenton Election: Foreman, Miner Run For School Board Seat

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — In the 2020 election, Manatee County voters will choose the winner of the School Board of Manatee County District 3 run-off race. Mary K. Foreman and incumbent Dave “Watchdog” Miner are vying for the role.

How to vote

As the Nov. 3 election approaches, Manatee County voters can submit their ballots at early voting locations, at drop-off boxes and by mail. They can also vote at their local voting precinct on Election Day.

If voting in person, either early or on Nov. 3, voters must bring a current and valid ID with their name, photo and signature. Find a full list of acceptable IDs here.

Vote-by-mail ballots may be returned using the U.S. Postal Service. The return postage for a vote-by-mail ballot is two Forever stamps or $.70. They must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day. Additionally, they can be dropped off at any early voting location. Find a list of early voting locations here. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot has passed.

If you choose to vote in person on Nov. 3, you can look up your voting precinct online here. For your vote to count, you must vote in the precinct in which you reside. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Meet the candidates

Bradenton Patch recently sent out questionnaires to learn more about who these candidates are and where they stand on local issues. Though neither candidate submitted their responses, we’ve compiled some information about them.

According to her campaign website, Mary K. Foreman has lived in Bradenton with her husband Gary since 2001. A graduate of Florida Atlantic University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, she worked as a certified public accountant until 2019, when she retired.

She’s served on Manatee County School District’s Audit Committee since 2013, when the group first formed, and has taken on the role of chair. Through this position, she became familiar with the district’s budget and operations, her website said.

“Having volunteered countless hours reviewing the work of the district’s auditors and making recommendations to the School Board based on the audit reports, she has worked tirelessly to ensure accountability,” according to her website. “As a member of the School Board, Mary would bring financial experience and attention to detail to the district’s $851 million budget as well as a parent’s concern for the success and well-being of our students.”

According to the Herald-Tribune, Foreman has questioned how the district Superintendent Cynthia Saunders has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her transparency with the board. As the board considers extending her contract, Foreman said she thinks the district should explore its options.

“Frankly, the public was told two years ago that the board was going to conduct a nationwide (superintendent) search,” Foreman told the Herald-Tribune. “I believe they owe it to the public to say they are going to do a nationwide search, and if Ms. Saunders wants to apply for that job, fine, but I think we need to get a seasoned superintendent who can get the job done. We need the best out there, and we don’t have that right now.”

She also said the district spends too much on administration. She wants to revamp the budgeting process so that each school principal has a better understanding of the funds available to them each year. She also wants the public to have more input at meetings.

Learn more about Foreman at her campaign website.

Incumbent Dave “Watchdog” Miner is seeking reelection. According to his campaign website, he’s lived in Manatee County since 1978. That’s when he launched his law firm since 1978, which he still owns. He has also served as an assistant city attorney, assistant county attorney and assistant state attorney.

He’s been honored numerous times for his community service, including “Children’s Advocate of the Year,” “Father of the Year,” and “Drum Major for Justice,” and he was a nominee for “Florida Attorney of the Year.” According to his website, he earned his nickname “Watchdog” from local reporters. The name refers to his advocacy work for education and children.

Miner was instrumental in passing the 2018 1-mill property tax referendum, which provides around $37 million to the school district each year, according to his website. He’s also dedicated to combating climate change and making the district’s buildings more energy efficient.

His website states that financial transparency is also important to him. He helped establish a volunteer audit committee to monitor the district’s finances. During his time on the board, the district’s total fund balance increased by more than $20 million and its Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch financial ratings improved.

According to his website, Miner established a child abuse prevention program for the district, as well as METV, Manatee Educational Television.

While his opponent is critical of Superintendent Saunders, he told the Herald-Tribune that he thinks she’s doing a good job. He called his opponents’ criticism of the superintendent “garbage.”

“Should you support somebody who is going a good job … who works very hard, puts in many long days?” Miner told the Herald-Tribune. “Should you support someone who is moving the School Board in great directions, who is doing more than most of the superintendents in the state?”

He also said that he puts in a lot of “behind-the-scenes” work to improve the district.

Learn more about Miner at his campaign website.