Updated 6/9/24
Collier County school board candidate forums were hosted by FCAction, an affiliate of Florida Citizens’ Alliance (FCA), on May 7 at the Marco Island Family Church and May 22 at the Grow Church.
Two school board seats will be on the August ballot, with incumbent two-term members Stephanie Lucarelli and Erick Carter facing challengers Pam Cunningham and Tom Henning.
In this post, I share some of what I learned from watching the recordings of both of them.
I begin by providing some context because voters should be aware of recent events and know something about the forums’ host organization and moderators.
Next, I explain why only two of the four candidates running participated. Their absence was frequently mentioned during both events but never explained. I asked the two who did not participate why they weren’t there because I think the reasons are relevant to voters.
Then, I summarize some of the Q&A to illustrate the candidates’ positions on issues of interest to the moderators and the audience.
I close with links to several websites, articles, and posts to provide some history of past school board elections and controversies if you want to know more.
Context
In Florida, School Board elections are nonpartisan. The political party affiliations of the candidates and the voters do not determine who may vote in them, as in the case of partisan elections. Yet partisanship characterized the 2022 school board elections.
And it continues today. For more history, see below.
In June 2023, the Pew Research Center noted that “K-12 education is shaping up to be a key issue in the 2024 election cycle.” It cited differences over what children should learn about slavery, gender identity, sex education, the U.S. position in the world, whether prayers should be held in school, and the discussion of religion, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The questions asked in these FCA forums elicited the candidates’ views on some of the issues identified in the Pew study and other divisive issues of today.
About FCA
FCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to “transform Florida’s K-12 education.” Its tactics include legislative advocacy, community organizing, and providing alternative education resources. It was founded in 2013 by Keith Flaugh, a retired IBM executive and U.S. Army veteran who serves as its CEO, and Rick Stevens, pastor at Diplomat Wesleyan Church in Cape Coral. Its website is goflca.org.
Flaugh and FCA members have been frequent public speakers at Collier school board meetings and have been actively involved in school board elections for the last ten years in their effort to transform education in Collier County.
In 2014, Erika Donalds and Kelly Lichter, two of the three candidates supported by a group called SWFL Citizens Alliance, were elected to the school board. (The group changed its name to FCA when it shifted its advocacy efforts to the state level.)
In 2016, FCA’s two candidates were defeated by then-newcomers Stephanie Lucarelli and Erick Carter. FCA did not put up candidates in 2018; in 2020, Lucarelli and Carter were reelected without opposition.
But the political winds turned back in FCA’s favor post-Covid. FCA and Moms for Liberty were the two “most notable groups” in an alliance of 300 or more local groups that disseminated lists of books they said were not appropriate for school children and mobilized members to testify at school board meetings, according to an article in The News-Press.
In 2022, with three school board seats on the ballot, the Collier County Republican Party and Republican State Committeeman Alfie Oakes endorsed a slate of candidates whose interest in “protecting parental rights” FCA shared.
All three races were decided by runoffs in the general election. The three endorsed candidates—Jerry Rutherford, Kelly Lichter, and Tim Moshier—won.
- Florida and Collier County Election Results — 2022, Sparker’s Soapbox, 11/20/22
About the Moderators
The forum’s moderators are public figures long associated with the Republican Party and the organizations they are involved with share FCA’s objectives.
As mentioned, Erika Donalds is a former Collier County School Board member. After one term on the Board (2014-2018), she founded and now serves as CEO of OptimaEd and The Optima Foundation. She is also a visiting fellow for The Heritage Foundation Center for Education Policy and is married to Southwest Florida Congressman Byron Donalds.
Kristina Heuser is an attorney in private practice. She was previously Chief Litigation Counsel for Advocates for Faith & Freedom and presently serves as Legal Counsel to the American Constitutional Rights Union. As a candidate to be Collier County’s Republican State Committeewoman in the August elections, her endorsements include the majority of Collier County’s Republican Party establishment and two sitting school board members.
Why Were the Incumbents Absent?
I asked Lucarelli and Carter why they were absent from both forums. Both said Flaugh, who invited them to participate, had not asked about their availability before scheduling them.
Lucarelli said she immediately informed Flaugh that she would be away with her daughters on May 7th and had a previous commitment as the chair for a Leadership Florida event that conflicted with the second date.
Similarly, Carter said he informed Flaugh that he would be out of town on May 7 and had previously committed to speaking at the Lorenzo Walker Technical College graduation, which conflicted with the second forum.
Yet despite Flaugh’s knowledge that the two could not participate, the stage was arranged for both events with the candidates’ name cards in front of two empty places. Further, Flaugh mentioned that the incumbents were not in attendance at both forums without explanation.
At the May 7 forum, Heuser began the Q&A with, “Unlike your opponents, the incumbents, who have displayed great cowardice by not being here to answer our questions, we really appreciate you doing so.”
The Forum
Flaugh began both forums by introducing representatives of the host churches, each of whom began with a prayer “in Jesus’ name.”
Next, a man introduced as a retired first responder led attendees in the pledge of allegiance. After that, at the May 7 event, he commented that he was “disappointed that two of the candidates didn’t show up.”
Then, at both forums, Flaugh presented a video advertisement for FCA that concluded, “We need your support to shape the future of education. Together, we can make a difference.” On May 7, a second ad was shown without introduction or explanation. It promoted a “gripping documentary exploring the life of General Michael Flynn” to be shown on May 17. Tickets were advertised on the FCA website.
Finally, after speaking about the importance of knowing what’s in the constitution and explaining how the forum would be conducted, he introduced the two moderators.
The Candidates
Pam Cunningham
“I am a Christian, a wife, a mother, a physician, and a small businesswoman,” Cunningham said. “I am the child of two immigrants who came to the United States fleeing religious persecution and seeking liberty.” She said that because she received a strong education, she is “living the American dream.” She has three children who attend a public charter school.
Tom Henning
Henning, a 50-year Collier resident and a graduate of Collier schools, previously served as an elected Collier County commissioner (2000-2016) and Fire Commissioner (2016-2020). “I stepped aside from that to raise my two youngest children,” he said. [Note: Henning ran for a second term on the Fire Commission in 2020 but was defeated.]
The Q&A
My intent below is to share some of the questions and responses given in one or both forums as briefly as possible. I do not share allegations candidates made about their opponents since they were not there to rebut them, nor do I attempt to verify the veracity of the candidates’ statements, clarify, or elaborate on what was said. Where it might be helpful, especially to newer Soapbox readers, I provide background information in shaded blocks.
Should school board meetings begin with an invocation?
BACKGROUND: Collier County School Board votes against invocation before meetings. 3-2 vote comes a year after conservative sweep in 2022 elections. FOX4 News, 12/12/23
- Cunningham – “They’re trying to remove any form of religious basis from the schools, and I stand firmly against that,” she said. “The Bible is my center of focus. There’s only one thing after the Bible, and that’s the constitution.”
- Henning – Said that all governing bodies in the U.S., in Florida, and in Collier County open meetings with an invocation. Spoke of the importance of seeking guidance and wisdom through prayer.
Would you like to see Collier County have chaplains in its schools?
BACKGROUND: Florida HB 931, effective 7/1/24, authorizes school districts and charter schools to allow volunteer chaplains to be on school campuses and provide additional counseling support to students with written parental consent.
- Cunningham – Supports the chaplain program “without question.” “If parents want that, I fully respect that right.
- Henning – Yes.
What is your top priority in your first term?
- Cunningham – Her “overarching goal” is to “get rid of the progressive aspect of our educational system.” Wants to return to teaching “our traditions. We stand for the flag, we kneel for the cross, we respect the nuclear family.” Wants to replace tablets in the classroom with paper and pencil.
- Henning – His “first priority” is bringing the invocation to the school board. Wants the School Board Vice Chair, not staff, to have responsibility for inviting faith leaders to give the invocation. Also, wants to “bring some adult supervision to the budgeting process.”
Is there a need to support LBGTQ clubs in our school system?
BACKGROUND: “It is the policy of the School Board that student clubs and groups be recognized as authorized school organizations only if they are approved by the school administration, sponsored by school-approved personnel, composed of members of the current student body, hold the majority of their meetings at school, and have established aims which are consistent with the mission, vision, and beliefs of the District.” (Board Policy 5840 Student Groups)
- Cunningham – “No. I absolutely do not think that our public schools should be sexualizing children in any way. I think that the existence of the Gay-Straight Alliance within our public schools is inappropriate.”
- Henning – No. Schools are not the “proper place for that type of activity.”
Would you seek to get rid of the current superintendent? How do you think she is doing so far?
BACKGROUND: Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli was hired by the current board in May 2023 by a vote of 3-2. Both incumbents seeking reelection were among the majority. Ricciardelli’s contract concludes on June 30, 2026. The new board will decide whether or not to extend it.
- Cunningham – Did not answer the question. Shared that she had emailed Dr. Ricciardelli, asking how a “very militant” LGBTQ display at a Lely school fits into the District’s mission. She said Ricciardelli promptly responded that the display had been taken down but did not get a response to her follow-up question. “We need to make sure that everyone’s on the same page,” she said.
- Henning – Doesn’t have “strong feelings against Dr. Ricciardelli” but has “concerns about certain things she has done.” Hopes to work with her to “bring the values of the community to our schools.”
Do you support locating cell towers on school properties?
BACKGROUND: In February 2024, the School Board unanimously approved a contract for cell tower construction and leasing services.
- Cunningham – Is “completely against.” Said that, as a physician, she knows that radiation exposure can be harmful, especially for developing bodies.
- Henning – Is “not educated enough to have an opinion” but wants to learn more about it. If they would be harmful to children, they should not be on school property.
What are your thoughts on the School Guardian program and the District’s ban on parents having firearms on school property?
BACKGROUND: CCPS Policy 5772 Weapons “prohibits keeping any weapon or firearm in a private vehicle on school property, even if the firearm stays in the vehicle, is securely encased and is not readily accessible for immediate use, except as authorized in support of school-sanctioned and supported activities.”
- Cunningham – “I strongly support the Guardian Program.” “It is totally unconstitutional to not allow parents to come on campus with a secured firearm in their vehicle.”
- Henning – “I’m a proponent of the Second Amendment.” People have the right to secure their property, whether on their person or in a vehicle. He said it is his understanding that the Board has adopted the Guardian program, but the staff has failed to implement it.
Are there sexually explicit materials in our schools? If so, what will you do about it?
BACKGROUND: CCPS Bans Books to Comply with State Law, Sparker’s Soapbox 11/13/23
- Cunningham – “There should not be pornography in the library.”
- Henning – “There better not be. If there has to be some kind of sex education material, the parent should sign off on a child taking out a book. But my preference is not to have any of that in the school.”
What are your thoughts about the school grading system as a measure of academic success?
BACKGROUND: “School grades provide an easily understandable way to measure the performance of a school. Parents and the general public can use the school grade and its components to understand how well each school is serving its students. Schools are graded A, B, C, D, or F.” Florida Department of Education 2023 Informational Baseline School Grades Overview; Florida Department of Education 2022-23 Collier School District Report Card
- Cunningham – Did not directly address the question. Said that the development of reading fluency tests would be a good place to start.
- Henning – Wants to return to “the traditional way we were graded.”
The Money
While it’s still early in the race, it’s interesting to see how much money each candidate has raised and spent.
This chart summarizes the total amounts reported through March 31, 2024.
Details are from the candidates’ campaign treasurer’s reports, which can be found on the Supervisor of Elections website by clicking a candidate’s name.
Only the District 2 candidates received contributions of the maximum allowable $1,000. Here are details of them:
Learn More
Learn more about the school board and voting in the upcoming school board elections:
- Florida’s Primary Election Process: A Soapbox Primer
- The Collier County School Board: a Soapbox Primer
I will be writing more about the candidates in a future post, but for now, learn more on their campaign websites:
- Pam Cunningham’s website
- Stephanie Lucarelli’s website
- Erick Carter’s website
- Tom Henning (has no website)
History
I have written much about past Collier School Board elections and controversies since I realized the importance of being an informed voter in school board elections more than ten years ago. Thinking about readers who may be new to Collier County or voting in school board elections, these are some posts I recommend:
- Deciding Who to Vote for in the August School Board Elections, Sparker’s Soapbox, 7/25/14
- SWFL Citizens Alliance Wants Control of the School Board, Sparker’s Soapbox, 8/8/14
- Florida Citizens Alliance Objections to Textbooks to Be Heard at Special School Board Meeting June 1st, Sparker’s Soapbox, 5/25/17
- Guest Opinion: Our Children and Our Community Above Politics, by Michael Dalby, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, via Naples Daily News, 10/8/22
- Florida and Collier County Election Results, Sparker’s Soapbox, 11/20/22
- Collier County School Board Update — July 2023, Sparker’s Soapbox, 8/12/23
- Invocations, Not Ideologies, on Monday’s School Board Agenda, Sparker’s Soapbox, 9/9/23