Polk County

Knowing where the candidates stand on the power of parents to choose the best educational setting for their child is extremely important to many Florida families. If you are a parent or family member of a child on a Step Up for Students, McKay, or Gardiner Scholarship program; you could be voting against the future of your child's scholarship because some candidates, shockingly, would like to see the programs come to a conclusion. If you are the parent of a child in a charter school, some of these candidates will fight to close or defund your school. Others will be champions for the educational program you, and your child, have chosen. It is crucial that we at least make informed decisions in such a pivotal election.

We’ve summarized below, to learn more click on the “learn more” button.

SCROLL DOWN FOR STATEWIDE RACES

Florida Senate

Florida Senate District 20

Senator Tom Lee (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Kathy Lewis (D)

No Information Available

Florida Senate District 22

Senator Kelli Stargel (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Bob Doyel (D)

Opposes Education Choice
check Against Step Up Scholarship
check Against Public Charter Schools

Florida Senate District 26

Ben Albritton (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

Catherine Price (D)

No Data Available

Florida House of Representatives

Florida House of Representatives district 39

Rep. Josie Tomkow (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Ricky Shirah (D)

Opposes education choice options

Florida House of Representatives district 40

Rep. Colleen Burton (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Shandale Terrell (D)

No Data Available

Florida House of Representatives district 42

Rep. Mike La Rosa (R)

Education Champion for ALL Students
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Barbara Cady (D)

Opposes Education Choice Options
Click HERE to find your County - Info on House and Senate Candidates

Statewide Candidates

Democratic Governor and Lt. Governor of Florida Candidates

Andrew Gillum (D)

Candidate for Governor

check Andrew Gillum wants to bring Step Up Scholarship to “conclusion”(*1)
check Andrew Gillum opposes Public Charter Schools (*2)
checkGillum's Political Committee (PAC) got $850,000 contribution from the group who sued to end the Step Up Scholarship Program and opposes charter schools (*3, 4)

(*sources below)

check Supports Traditional Public Schools (*2)

Learn more

Chris King (D)

Candidate for Lt. Governor
Shares Gillum Education Vision

Republican Governor and Lt. Governor of Florida Candidates

Ron Desantis (R)

Candidate for Governor - Education Champion for ALL Students
check Ron DeSantis Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Ron DeSantis Supports Public Charter Schools
check Ron DeSantis Supports Traditional Public Schools

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Jeanette Nunez (R)

Candidate for Lt. Governor
check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

Attorney General Candidates

Ashley Moody (R)

Education Champion for ALL Florida Students
check Ashley Moody Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Ashley Moody Supports Public Charter Schools
check Ashley Moody Supports Traditional Public Schools

Sean Shaw (D)

check Shaw filed a bill to END Step Up Tax Credit Scholarship (*1)

check Consistently voted against pro-charter school and Step Up for Students legislation (*2)

checkShaw's Political Committee (PAC) got $25,000 contribution from group that sued to end Step Up Tax Credit Scholarship program and opposes charter schools. (*3)

(*sources below)

Chief Financial Officer Candidates

Jimmy Patronis (R)

check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

Jeremey Ring (D)

check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

Commissioner of Agriculture Candidates

Matt Caldwell (R)

check Supports Step Up Scholarships
check Supports Public Charter Schools
check Supports Traditional Public Schools

Nikki Fried (D)

check endorsed by the group who sued to end the Step Up Scholarship Program and opposes charter schools (*1)

(*sources below)

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SOURCES:

Andrew Gillum

1. Wants to bring Step Up to Conclusion:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-desantis-school-tour-20180921-story.html

2. Opposes many Charter Schools:
https://educationvotes.nea.org/2018/09/14/five-reasons-why-floridas-andrew-gillum-is-public-educations-pick-for-governor/

3. PAC ccepted $100,000 from group that sued to end Step up Scholarship program:
http://floridapolitics.com/archives/275216-fea-committee-spends-100k-to-back-andrew-gillum

4. PAC accepted $850,000 from unions who oppose education choice programs and charter schools:
https://Forwardfla.com/

Sean Shaw

1. Filed a bill to bring Step Up to Conclusion:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=61946

2. Consistently voted against pro-charter school legislation view his voting record here:
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov

3. Sean Shaw for Florida Political Committee (PAC) accepted $25,000 from group that sued to end Step Up Tax Credit Scholarship program and opposes charter schools.
https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/committees/ComDetail.asp?account=70499

Nikki Fried

1. Endorsed by unions
https://nikkifried.com/supporters/

Paid political advertisement paid for by Florida Education Empowerment PAC P.O. Box 1440, Lutz, FL 33548, independently of any candidate. This advertisement was not approved by any candidate. Not approved by or affiliated with Step Up for Students.