Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

School Board: Malcolm keeps seat; runoff for District 2

Pat Fagan and Linda Prescott will square off in the Nov. 2 general election to replace Gail David, who is retiring.

BROOKSVILLE - School Board member Jim Malcolm cruised to a fourth term Tuesday, besting his lone opponent, recent Springstead High School graduate Danny Dunn, by a 2-to-1 ratio in the District 4 race.

In the District 2 contest to replace retiring board member Gail David, county parks director Pat Fagan and environmental activist Linda Prescott are headed to the Nov. 2 general election.

Nonpartisan primary races, unlike those where candidates have party affiliations, are not winner take all.

Fagan led the four-person field with about one-third of the vote, with Prescott close behind.

Former board member Stephen Galaydick came in third, while bus driver Lewis Jones was a distant fourth.

Malcolm campaigned on his record, which included strong support of magnet schools and reading improvement programs. Dunn called the incumbent "out of touch" and offered himself as someone with 13 years of experience in the trenches as a student.

Malcolm said the results vindicated his role as an advocate for students, parents and teachers.

"I'm just delighted that the voters have returned me for a fourth term," he said, praising first-time candidate Dunn for a good, clean race.

He said he planned to push the board to move ahead on the issues he campaigned on.

"I want to see that we beef up that reading initiative," Malcolm said.

"I want to make sure we put some emphasis on our at-risk kids, and revisit our gifted programs."

Dunn said he was pleased to have pulled so many votes.

"I won't fade away," he said. "You can look for me in four more years."

The District 2 candidates were seeking to replace outgoing board member David, who retired to live with her husband in Gainesville.

Fagan, who led the field in financial contributions, said he planned to stress his 33 years of experience working with people in the coming campaign.

"I am very grateful I came out No. 1 in this race. I plan on listening to everybody's concerns about the school system and to do whatever I can to win this race," he said.

Prescott, who had the teachers' union endorsement, contended her 35 years as an educator made her better qualified for the job than her opponents. Her campaign focused on curriculum matters, and on growth and development concerns.

"Now the work really begins," she said.

"I really am surprised. I feel very honored that that many people have that much faith in me."

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 352 754-6115 or solochek@sptimes.com