As part of our commitment to providing you with what you need to make an informed decision in the 2026 elections, News 6 joined with the News Collaborative of Central Florida to present the Voting Central Florida 2026 Voter’s Guide.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.
Recommended Videos
[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]
Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.
However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.
Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.
Brevard County School Board District 5
The Brevard County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.
School Board District 5 encompasses voters in the southwestern part of the county, from Melbourne on down. You can see a map of the area HERE.
Since there are three candidates in the race, the top vote-getter must get more than 50% of the vote (50%+1) in order to win outright. Otherwise, the top two candidates will go to a runoff in November.
The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.
Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.
Our News Collaborative partners at Central Florida Public Media compiled the candidate responses for Brevard County School Board District 5.
You can see the full Central Florida Public Media Voting Guide HERE.
Tammy Dennis
WEBSITE: tammyforstudents.com
TOP ISSUES
What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.
Problem Number 1 and Solution: Safety. To protect from outside predators, I will continue implementation of Open Gate and work with the Sheriff to employ additional deterrents. To protect from within, I will continue to implement the new discipline policy, including consequences for bad behavior and empower principals and teachers to enforce. A disciplined learning environment is critical for teachers to teach and kids to learn. Additionally, students are only one click away from very dangerous places through AI. I will ensure we employ the most qualified people to secure the proper protections immediately.
Problem Number 2 and Solution: A new era of less children in the population, decreasing student enrollment, school choice and increasing budget restraints. With my budget oversight experience, I will help make the hard choices, streamline processes, and tighten up spending, particularly for administration. I will look at unfunded state mandates, assess their value and push back on those efforts we are forced to execute and pay for that bring little or no results. I will move forward smartly with a laser focus on students.
Problem Number 3 and Solution: Parental rights at risk as some educators think they know better than parents. I will uphold Gov DeSantis’ and the state of Florida’s Parents’ Bill of Rights and stand firmly on the side of parental rights to direct their children’s education. I will ensure parents have the right to see curriculum, opt their children out of content they feel is objectionable, and to be notified - not kept in the dark - about matters affecting their child. I will be a board member who honors and enforces those rights every single day and never stops fighting for their right to be fully informed and fully involved in their child’s education.
How should the district handle teacher shortages? Celebrate the progress our district has made moving from being a B District for many years to an A District the last 3 years. Promote the wins, reveal the needs and show how they can be an integral part of a team who works hard every day to educate every student with excellence as the standard. Implement a merit-based system, compensate fairly and reward outstanding accomplishments.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? In 2024, Brevard Public Schools started the first-ever literacy plan, Mighty Moves, a “strategic, systematic, and structured plan based on the science of reading to tackle the need for foundational skills in the primary grades” (Wendy Smith). Orton Gillingham and the 7 Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny are grounded in the Science of Reading. The quarterly moves include: Phonemic Awareness With Intention; Phonics Explicitly and Systematically; Decoding Strategies, Not Cueing Strategies; Improve Comprehension by Developing Vocabulary and Background Knowledge. The remaining three moves: fluency, use of decodable text, and teaching sight words, are addressed within each quarter’s moves. Just two years later, scores are starting to go up. I will support policy and funding for the Mighty Moves plan to improve early literacy proficiency, based on early literacy data.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I will support trained armed staff on school property. The best defense for our kids is several adults prepared with a weapon to immediately stand up for them with an effective means to stop the violence. Also, as we renovate buildings, consider and implement safety improvements as well. For example, when replacing windows in classrooms to the front of the property, make openings higher so that shots cannot be easily fired through window at the level where people would be sitting or standing. Continue implementing Open Gate and working with the Sheriff for further security measures.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? No books or literature with sexually explicit material should be accessible in school libraries. Age-appropriate books should be widely available. When needed, form a committee including some board members, teachers and members of the community to review books in question against the current policy - no R-rated literature allowed.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign?
- (Palm Bay) Mayor Rob Medina
- Space Coast Young Republicans
- Trail Blazers of Tomorrow
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I will work hard to implement policy that accelerates the ability to attract quality teachers to our Certified Technical Education (CTE) Programs, provide options for transportation, and engage more businesses for apprenticeships and internships with a path to employment. Every kid needs a path. I will support commonsense choices supporting decisions that strengthen academic excellence and opportunity for every child to succeed.
Michele McCormack
WEBSITE: electmichelemccormack.com
TOP ISSUES
What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? The three most pressing problems in our district are instability in our schools, the loss of experienced educators and paraprofessionals, and inconsistent support for students with disabilities. I would strengthen stability by restoring transparency and collaboration, improve retention by supporting staff and reducing unnecessary burdens, and expand services for students with disabilities through better staffing, training, and evidence-based programs. When we invest in people and keep students at the center, we build stronger, more stable schools for every family.
How should the district handle teacher shortages? The district should address teacher shortages by making Brevard a place where educators want to stay. That means offering competitive pay, reducing unnecessary burdens, and ensuring teachers and paraprofessionals have the support they need to do their jobs well. We must also strengthen mentoring, expand recruitment pipelines, and create incentives for critical certifications. When we invest in our educators and treat them as the professionals they are, we build stability for students and strengthen our entire school community.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? To improve reading growth, we must strengthen early literacy, and one of the most effective ways is expanding access to high-quality VPK programs. When children enter kindergarten with strong early reading skills, they are far more likely to stay on track. We also need to support families with resources that build literacy at home, including parent training and accessible materials. By investing early and partnering with families, we can create a strong foundation for lifelong reading success.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Brevard has strong safety protocols in place, and our schools work hard to keep students and staff protected. One area that needs attention is transportation. Late buses have been a significant issue this year, and when students are not picked up or dropped off on time, it creates stress and uncertainty for families. Improving bus reliability is a practical safety priority that helps ensure students arrive and leave school on schedule, reduces anxiety, and keeps daily routines stable.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges and library removals should be handled through a clear, consistent, and transparent review process. Florida law outlines what districts must follow, and it’s important that decisions are made based on age appropriateness, educational value, and established procedures - not politics. Families, educators, and trained media specialists should all have a role in the review process. When we follow the law, communicate clearly, and keep the focus on students, we maintain trust and ensure our libraries remain safe, appropriate learning spaces.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? Our campaign is supported by a range of community leaders, local organizations, and small businesses.
I am honored to have the endorsement of Rachel Sadoff, Brevard County Clerk of Court and Comptroller; Sheriff Wayne Ivey; the Brevard Federation of Teachers; Julie Kennedy, Vice Mayor of Melbourne; and I am the recommended candidate for the Central Labor Council.
We are also proud to have the support of No Limits Fitness in West Melbourne and Fabulous Furr Dog Grooming in Palm Bay.
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? School Board members don’t pass policy independently, but we do set priorities and adopt policy as a team. In my first year, I would focus on strengthening policies that support safe, stable learning environments and clear communication with families. A major priority for me would be rebuilding trust between the Board and the community- through more transparent processes, consistent communication, and policies that make it easier for families and staff to understand how decisions are made. My goal is to work collaboratively with the Board and Superintendent to ensure our policies reflect what students and teachers actually need in classrooms.
Cecilia Trotter
WEBSITE: votececiliatrotter.com
TOP ISSUES
What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? The top issues facing Brevard County Schools are transparency, funding, and teacher retention.
Transparency has eroded in recent years, leaving families, educators, and personnel without clear information about spending, staffing decisions, and long-term planning. A solution-focused approach begins with restoring open communication so the district can rebuild trust and create stability. Strengthening regular information sharing, improving clarity around decision-making, and making district operations easier for families to understand can help reconnect the community to its schools. Highlighting the strong programs already in place -- including hands-on STEM labs, robust music and art opportunities, and evidence-based phonics and reading instruction in the early grades -- further reinforces confidence by showing families the value and quality present in Brevard’s neighborhood schools.
Funding continues to be a major challenge, but there are clear steps the district can take to strengthen stability. State-level decisions have diverted public dollars away from our schools while increasing unfunded mandates, creating pressure on already limited resources. A solution-focused path forward includes responsible, student-centered budgeting and stronger advocacy to ensure Brevard receives the support it needs. Working collaboratively with state legislators to pursue reasonable guardrails on voucher programs can help protect the funding that local schools rely on. Preserving local revenue streams is also essential for maintaining capital projects and long-term infrastructure, which makes transparency in financial planning critical for sustaining public trust and community buy-in.
Teacher retention is at a crisis point, but there are practical steps the district can take to strengthen stability and support educators. Low pay, heavy workloads, and a climate of political pressure have driven many talented teachers away, limiting opportunities for students. A solution-focused approach includes ensuring educators have the flexibility to teach state-mandated standards in ways that meet the diverse needs of their classrooms, reducing unnecessary pressures, and improving working conditions. Brevard can also explore innovative supports such as designating unused district land for affordable housing and partnering with local financial institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits to help employees access down-payment assistance and first-time homebuyer programs. Prioritizing respect, stability, and practical supports for educators is essential to maintaining strong academic
How should the district handle teacher shortages? There are many solutions the district can pursue to address teacher shortages and strengthen long-term retention. I have been teaching for 19 years, and I am still earning under $55,000. Working with state legislators to increase teacher pay remains essential, and Florida’s lottery revenue and tourism-based tax streams can help support needed compensation improvements. Locally, promoting the renewal of the 1-mill initiative--of which 80% supports staff salaries--provides a direct path to stabilizing the workforce. Supporting teachers also means treating them as the professionals they are by giving them flexibility to teach state standards in ways that fit their classrooms, respecting their planning time and contracted hours, and maintaining strong working relationships with teacher unions so educators feel heard and supported. Additional solutions include partnering with financial institutions, government entities, and nonprofits to expand access to first-time homebuyer assistance and exploring the use of unused district-owned land for affordable workforce housing. Offering meaningful professional development and clear career pathways further strengthens stability. Public schools thrive when educators experience respect, consistency, and genuine job satisfaction, and students benefit most when their teachers can build long-term careers in Brevard County.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Improving Florida’s academic reading growth requires serious, sustained discussion about funding and how resources are used. Working with state representatives to ensure dollars reach classrooms and support programs with proven results is essential. After 19 years in the classroom, I have seen how millions can be spent on products that are later discarded due to inefficiency, lack of training, or rapid replacement. A solution-focused approach prioritizes investing in high-quality teachers and ensuring they earn a living wage, strengthening K-2 structured literacy programs, and providing additional support--such as literacy coaches and targeted training--to schools in low-performing or marginalized areas. Expanding access to early-learning programs like VPK and Head Start, especially in communities that need them most, helps prepare students for kindergarten and long-term reading success. Returning reasonable restrictions to the Universal Voucher Program can also help protect public funding, especially since many participating schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools. Research consistently shows that well-funded public schools close achievement gaps, interrupt cycles of poverty, and contribute to higher lifetime earnings. Strengthening funding, accountability, and early literacy supports is central to improving reading outcomes statewide.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? I was teaching in Coconut Creek when the tragic shooting at Stoneman-Douglas High School occurred. I will never forget the sense of loss and pain we experienced as a community. School safety remains a critical priority for every district, and Brevard County has taken significant steps to strengthen security through the revenue generated by the half-cent sales tax. Schools now operate with single points of entry, front offices equipped with bullet-resistant glass, and interior doors that automatically close and lock to prevent unauthorized access. Campuses are supported by armed resource officers and police partners, and students and staff participate in monthly safety drills to reinforce best practices. Continued improvement requires ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement agencies to identify vulnerabilities, update protocols, and ensure that every campus remains secure. Maintaining strong partnerships with police departments and the sheriff’s office is essential to protecting students and staff and sustaining a culture of safety across the district.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Book challenges have become a political flashpoint, even though many titles have sat on library shelves for years without concern. A solution-focused approach begins with establishing clear, consistent book-challenge policies that protect both parental involvement and students’ access to literature. Challenges should come only from a parent or guardian of a student, and once a formal complaint is filed, the book should remain in circulation until the review committee reaches a decision. The review process should require the challenger to read the book in its entirety and participate in a discussion with teachers, media specialists, and other parents to evaluate the book’s educational value, cultural relevance, and developmental appropriateness. Districts can also offer certain titles with parental permission when appropriate. Banning books simply because some individuals are offended is short-sighted and restricts students’ freedom to read. A thoughtful, transparent process ensures that concerns are heard while preserving access to diverse perspectives and high-quality literature for all students.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? None, thus far.
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? If elected, I would focus on restoring the transparency that has been missing from our School Board’s operations. One key step is rehiring a Chief Financial Officer to serve as a single, accountable point of contact for our $1.6 billion budget, ensuring clearer oversight and communication. I would involve staff, students, and families in understanding the enrollment challenges facing the district and in shaping thoughtful, community-centered solutions. Increasing accessibility is also essential, which is why I would bring School Board visits directly into schools across the county to encourage participation from educators, families, and students. I will make myself available on campuses to hear concerns related to daily operations in a safe and private environment. Additionally, School Board meetings should be recorded from start to finish, include opportunities for public comment, and place non-agenda items at the beginning of the meeting so community voices are heard without unnecessary delay. Strengthening transparency, accessibility, and accountability will help rebuild trust and ensure the district’s decisions reflect the needs of the community.