Citrus County School Board District 5
Joseph “Joe” Faherty vs. Linda Powers
Joe Faherty collected 57% of the vote, making him the Citrus County School Board District 5 member.
Incumbent Powers has 39 years of experience in education, working as a teacher at the elementary, middle, high school and community college levels. She raised more than $21,000 in monetary campaign contributions, of which she spent about $15,000, according to the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Office website.
Faherty is a Deputy Sheriff School Resource Officer who raised more than $25,000 in monetary contributions. He spent nearly $23,000 attempting to unseat his opponent with an incumbent advantage.
Citrus County Commissioner District 2
Diana Finegan vs. Paul Grogan
Winning 78% of the vote, Diana Finegan will hold the Citrus County Commissioner District 2 seat.
Finegan, a life-long resident of Citrus County, raised more than $67,000 in monetary contributions, according to the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections Office website, and she spent nearly $52,000 campaigning. She has previously sat on the boards of the Citrus County Anti-Drug Coalition, the Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition and the Citrus County Community Food Bank Advisory Board. She is also a local business owner in the county.
Grogan, the clear underdog in the race, has lived in Citrus County since the late '70s. He has not campaigned or attended public gatherings up to the election. His campaign has raised $2,748 in total campaign contributions, of which Grogan has personally donated $2,715.
Hernando County School Board District 1
Kay Hatch vs. Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson won the Hernando County School Board District 1 seat with 52% of the vote.
Johnson raised about $42,000 in monetary contributions, of which he spent about $40,500, according to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Office website. He was on the school board from 2014-2018, and he said he closed a $12 million deficit in the county.
Hatch, the incumbent, fell behind in fundraising, collecting about $18,500 and spending about $15,600. Before moving to Hernando County in 2015, she taught pediatric nursing in Ohio. She volunteers in elementary schools teaching young students how to read, which inspired her to run for the seat.
Hernando County School Board District 5
Susan Duval vs. Monty Floyd
With 52% of the votes, Susan Duval won the contentious race for the Hernando County School Board District 5 seat.
Incumbent School Board Vice Chair Susan Duval has been working in education and education administration in Hernando County since the late '60s. She has worked at Hernando High School, Powell Middle School, Central High School and F.W. Springstead High School. Her campaign has raised nearly $7,000 and spent about $6,500.
Floyd raised about $25,700 in monetary contributions, and only spent about $16,700 of that, according to the Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Office website. The conservative candidate has referred to Hernando County’s school system as a “dumpster fire” on multiple occasions. He is an active Gab.com user, on which he emphasizes opposition to mask mandates and mandatory injections.