Odessa-area families will choose between educator Matt Geiger and businesswoman Mollyana Ward for their next school board representative after the two topped a five-candidate field in Tuesday's Pasco County primary.
Geiger led the District 3 race with 28.8% of the vote, and Ward finished second at 21.1%, according to unofficial results posted early Wednesday with all 122 precincts reporting. The two will advance to a Nov. 3 runoff to fill the seat Cynthia Armstrong held for 16 years before deciding not to seek reelection.
The race is not over.
District 3 covers Odessa, Holiday, Trinity and parts of New Port Richey. Erin Stroupe, a preschool teacher and former communications professional, finished third with 19% of the vote, missing the runoff by roughly 1,500 votes, the Hernando Sun reported. Sean O'Flannery, a Marine Corps veteran and Hall of Fame volleyball coach, took 17.3%, and Dr. Kirk Phillips, who self-funded $45,000 of his $50,600 campaign, finished last at 13.8%.
Geiger, who has nearly 30 years of education experience and challenged Armstrong in 2022, outpaced better-funded opponents. Ward, co-founder of Icemann Development and a licensed Realtor, received the endorsement of Pasco Superintendent John Legg.
Harding wins third term in District 5
Incumbent Megan Harding cruised to reelection in District 5, defeating challenger Michelle Mandarin 72.1% to 27.9%. The win gives Harding, a 13-year teacher and adjunct instructor at Saint Leo University, a third and final term on the board.
"Tonight's landslide victory is a strong affirmation of the work we have done together, the progress our schools have made, and the belief that putting students, teachers and families ahead of politics matters," Harding said in a statement Tuesday night.
District 1 heads to runoff
In District 1, Dr. Kimberly Coward led with 35.3% and Dr. Gino Collura took 31%, sending both to the Nov. 3 runoff to replace Al Hernandez, who did not seek reelection. Collura previously taught at Sunlake High School in Land O' Lakes and currently sits on the Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees. Coward, a former JAG officer, worked as a guidance counselor at Land O' Lakes High School.
Christopher King (20.3%) and Brian Perras (13.4%) were eliminated.
What's ahead
The new board members will take office as the district navigates student screen-time limits, AI guidelines, enrollment shifts that could lead to school closures or mergers, and a November property tax referendum that supplements teacher and staff salaries. Pasco County Schools earned its first overall A grade from the state in more than a decade in 2026, according to Tampa Bay Times reporting.
Countywide, voter turnout was 21.5%, with 86,103 of 400,459 registered voters casting ballots. Results are unofficial pending certification. The Nov. 3 general election will settle both the District 1 and District 3 runoffs.
