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.
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[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.
Sumter County School Board District 3
The Sumter County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.
School Board District 3 encompasses voters in the north central part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.
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.
News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Sumter County School Board District 3, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.
Gerald “Jerry” Loomer
WEBSITE: geraldloomerforsumter.com/
You can also read the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections’ candidate profile HERE.
FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race?: I have taught sciences for over 37 years and have had success with the students and received many honors for my teaching. Obviously, some thought I did a good job as they chose me as the SOUTH DAKOTA TEACHER OF THE YEAR, awarded me the national PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE TEACHING in the first year it was offered, and chose me as a finalist from among 15,000 teachers who applied for the NASA Teacher in Space Project (which culminated with the Challenger disaster). I have witnessed the successes of our educational system and have challenged areas where I thought it could do better. My commitment to education continues during my retirement as I judge International, Florida state, regional and local science fairs. My opponent taught golf to adults.
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: Florida ranks last in the nation for average teacher pay, and that reality directly affects our ability to attract and retain high‑quality educators. Sumter County must take a hard look at how we allocate our limited funds. In recent years, the district spent nine million dollars on artificial turf football fields at two high schools. Redirecting even a portion of that level of spending toward teacher recruitment, retention incentives, and professional development would have made a meaningful difference for classrooms across the district. As a School Board member, I will closely monitor how every dollar is spent and prioritize investments that directly improve student learning — beginning with ensuring that every student is taught by a qualified, supported, and committed teacher.
Problem Number 2 and Solution: Sumter County School District is carrying significant debt, and the interest payments reduce the dollars available for classrooms. At the June School Board meeting, the Superintendent indicated that the district would need another $20 million loan just to balance the budget. That is not sustainable, and it diverts money away from teachers and students.
Florida ranks last in the nation for average teacher pay, and every unnecessary dollar spent on interest is a dollar not invested in recruiting and retaining qualified educators. As a School Board member, I will closely examine how funds are allocated, require clear justification for major expenditures, and ensure that spending decisions reflect the district’s highest priorities — beginning with strengthening our teaching workforce. My focus will be on reducing unnecessary debt and directing more resources toward the people who have the greatest impact on student achievement: their teachers.
Problem Number 3 and Solution: Many residents feel overlooked because the district lacks transparency in how decisions are made. School Board agendas often list items only by code numbers, with no explanation of what the item actually is. Meeting minutes frequently omit meaningful detail, and public speakers rarely receive acknowledgment or follow‑up on their concerns. This erodes trust and discourages community involvement. Almost half of our property taxes are for the schools - they are entitled to better information.
I believe the public deserves clear, accessible information. I will push for agendas that include plain‑language descriptions, minutes that accurately reflect discussions and decisions, and a commitment to acknowledging and responding to citizen input. All Board meetings are recorded, and I support live streaming them and posting a searchable transcript so residents can easily follow what was said. Transparency is essential for accountability, and I will work to ensure that every resident can see how and why decisions are made.
How would you handle district budget issues? District funding must first support programs that directly improve student learning. That begins with attracting and retaining high‑quality teachers, which requires competitive compensation and a clear commitment to supporting educators. Excessive district debt drains money away from classrooms, and the interest payments limit our ability to invest in students.
I believe the district must prioritize paying down its debt so more dollars stay in education rather than going to interest. Every budget decision should be evaluated through a simple lens: Does this improve student achievement? If not, it should not come before the needs of teachers and students
How should the district handle teacher shortages? The nationwide teacher shortage affects Sumter County as well, and we must be proactive in addressing it. While new graduates can be excellent teachers, experience matters — especially in a district where many students need strong academic support.
Sumter County has a unique advantage: we are home to the best retirement community in the world. Many highly skilled teachers from other states are approaching retirement but still want to make a difference for a few more years. We should actively recruit these experienced educators by promoting opportunities in Sumter County and highlighting the benefits of living and working here.
By combining competitive compensation with targeted recruitment of seasoned teachers, we can stabilize our workforce and ensure that every student is taught by someone who is both qualified and committed.
Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Reading success starts with strong instruction. We need highly qualified teachers in reading classrooms, and we must support students who need additional help. Many of our teachers are excellent, but teachers who would benefit from coaching should receive targeted training and guidance from their school administrators. Instructional leadership must be active and engaged. When administrators provide meaningful support and ongoing professional development, teachers improve — and so do students. Strengthening classroom instruction is the most direct way to raise reading achievement.
What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? Sumter County schools are generally safe, and the district has taken responsible steps to protect students. Every school has a School Resource Officer from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, with half the cost reimbursed by county law enforcement. Building access is limited to secure entry points, and visitors must follow established protocols. These measures are working well. I believe in continually reviewing safety practices, but I do not support changing systems that are already effective. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
How should book challenges and library removals be handled? The district already has a clear and effective process for addressing concerns about library materials. A student or parent begins by speaking with the school librarian. If the issue is not resolved, it moves to the school administration, then to the district administration if needed. Only after those steps does it come before the School Board. This structure ensures that concerns are addressed at the appropriate level. The Board’s role is not to micromanage individual library decisions, but to review cases where the established process has not produced a satisfactory resolution.
What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? My campaign is supported by friends, neighbors, and individual residents. I am not funded by organizations, and I am not seeking endorsements. I want my campaign to reflect the voices of the people who live here, not outside groups
If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? The budgeting process for next school year is already underway, and I will participate in those meetings to advocate for hiring qualified, certified teachers for every classroom. I will also work to improve transparency in how the School Board communicates with the public. This includes supporting live streaming of Board meetings, expanding the detail in Board minutes so residents can clearly understand what was voted on, and adding a link to the recorded meeting audio so the public can easily access what was said. My goal is to make Board actions clear, accessible, and accountable to the community.
David Williams - Incumbent
WEBSITE: N/A
Mr. Williams did not answer our questionnaire. However, he did post a profile on the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections website, which you can read HERE.