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Heather Fiorentino and Alice Delgardo are more alike than different. Fiorentino, the Republican state legislator, and Delgardo, a Democrat and licensed practical nurse, say they plan few administrative changes if elected superintendent of the Pasco School District.
Both are pleasant, sincere and refrain from criticizing their general election opponent. They offer inoffensive, but limited platforms. Fiorentino promises to boost teacher morale and improve communications with the county on planning issues and recategorize exceptional education students. Ditto Delgardo, who wants to plan better for growth and obtain more resources for schools and faculty. Both advocate a change to the board policy that prohibits seniors who flunk the FCAT from walking with their graduating class. Both question whether the continuous progress curriculum should be tweaked.
What sets them apart is their familiarity with Florida's education system and the Pasco County School District. Fiorentino is a 14-year teacher and a three-term legislator who chaired the Florida House of Representatives' General Education Committee. In Tallahassee, she voted against Gov. Jeb Bush's A plus Plan for Education, the McKay voucher program for the disabled and the corporate tax breaks tied to vouchers for low-income students. It showed an independent streak indicating she won't be beholden to the Republican Party hierarchy that helped her win the GOP primary.
That will be key. If elected, Fiorentino should maintain the continuity of a highly regarded public school system recognized for academic achievement and fiscal efficiency. She was wise to demonstrate that early, by asking vanquished primary opponent Chuck Rushe to remain as the district's chief financial officer. Fiorentino also has retreated from her primary campaign rhetoric that the district is wasteful.
Delgardo, to her credit, is running to give voters a choice because of the Republican trickery to pose a write-in candidacy in order to block a universal primary. Delgardo stepped forward to be the Democratic Party nominee ensuring that Pasco's 159,000 Democrats and independent voters have the opportunity to help select the next superintendent.
It is an admirable decision that even she acknowledged can be construed as premature for a recent transplant from Massachusetts. She and her husband, a retired firefighter, moved to Holiday two years ago to be closer to their children and first grandchild.
Delgardo's campaign emphasizes her stronger academic credentials - she has a master's degree in education - and her management skills in directing a welfare-to-work initiative and, earlier, a public health department's tobacco control program in Boston.
She promises little change to how the district is run and advocates community involvement via a new citizens committee to work with legislators and county commissioners to ensure sales tax and lottery revenues are spent as intended.
Fiorentino calls Delgardo a community asset. We agree. We hope to see her in public service at some point in Pasco County. But overseeing the Pasco School District is simply too broad a responsibility for a first foray into Florida politics.
The Times recommends Heather Fiorentino as school superintendent.
OPPORTUNIT Y T O REPLYThe Times offers candidates not recommended by its editorial board an opportunity to reply. The superintendent candidate should send a reply no later than 5 p.m. Monday to: C.T. Bowen, Pasco editor of editorials, St. Petersburg Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668. Fax: 727 869-6233. They can be e-mailed to Bowen@sptimes.com or sent through our Web site at www.sptimes.com/letters/ Replies are limited to 250 words.