School board, judicial candidates to face off in forums

Still deciding on who to vote for in school board and judicial races in Seminole County? The League of Women Voters of Seminole County is hosting two events within the next week.

The first is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 where all six candidates for Seminole County Public Schools will attend a forum at the Educational Support Center board room at 400 E. Lake Mary Blvd. in Sanford.

The events will be moderated question-and-answer sessions, and will provide the chance for audience input. Questions can be submitted here.

“Every (candidate) is coming. Same with the judicial,” said Cathy Swerdlow, the president of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County. “Last time, we filled that auditorium area,” Swerdlow said. “I kind of anticipate we’ll have a good crowd between the PTA and us.”

School board elections are non-partisan and at-large. That means candidates must live in the districts they represent, but every voter in Seminole County can vote in each race. With two candidates for each race, that means all three school board races on the ballot this year will be decided in the Aug. 18 primary election. 

Check here for Oviedo Community News 2026 Voter guide, which includes candidate profiles for all three races and questionnaires answered by candidates. The school board candidates this year are: 

• Incumbent Kristine Kraus against challenger Antonio Pizza for District 1.
• Holton Mills against Joshua Memminger in District 2, a seat where incumbent Kelley Davis has didn’t file to run for reelection.
• Incumbent Autumn Garick against challenger Brian Newsome in District 5. 

Additionally, the League of Women Voters has a forum next week for judicial candidates. The event will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29 at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Community Room at 100 Eslinger Way in Sanford. 

Seminole County voters will decide on two kinds of judicial races during the Aug. 18 primary election. For Seminole County judges, there are two elections with candidates:

• Incumbent Sylvia Grunor is facing challenger Nathan Skop in Group 3. 
• Incumbent Wayne Culver is facing two challengers in Group 6:  challengers Alena Chaban and Erik Swenk. 

And Seminole County voters will also make decisions about judges in the 18th Judicial Circuit, which serves both Brevard and Seminole counties. Those candidates are:

• Incumbent Judge Robert Alan Segal is facing challenger Larry Freeman for Group 4.
• In Group 13, after the sitting judge’s retirement, two challengers are facing off: Andrea Fant and George Cole Gaspard are on the ballot.

Both events will be livestreamed on the League’s Facebook page, and then video of the forum will be posted to YouTube. Check back to Oviedo Community News for coverage of the event.

Abe Aboraya is a Report for America corps member.