Two candidates will face off Nov. 3 for the open Hillsborough County School Board District 2 seat after the primary narrowed a three-way race to a runoff separated by fewer than 700 votes. Lutz and Odessa residents who vote in Hillsborough County also have a stake in the District 6 at-large runoff, where incumbent board Chair Karen Perez fell just short of winning outright.
Former district administrator Daniela Simic led the District 2 race with 38.61% of the vote, more than 17,000 ballots, according to unofficial results from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections reported Tuesday evening with 89 of 92 precincts reporting. Attorney Brittany Lyssy finished second at 36.96% with 16,380 votes. Chris Taylor, a former teacher turned finance executive, placed third with 24.43% and was eliminated.
No candidate won outright.
Because no one cleared the 50% threshold in the nonpartisan race, Simic and Lyssy advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
The seat opened when eight-year incumbent Stacy Hahn left to run for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. District 2 stretches from Hyde Park to Ruskin and covers 42 public schools.
Simic touts administration background, key endorsements
Simic, 48, served as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Hillsborough County Public Schools, overseeing 233 schools and more than 12,000 educators. She currently works as an account executive with Magic School AI and is vice president of advocacy for the Hillsborough County Council PTA. The Hillsborough County Teachers Association, the Florida Education Association and state Sen. Brian Nathan endorsed her campaign.
"The school board level of government is kind of that last stop before policies hit your school districts and your teachers and your students," Simic said in a July 27 WUSF candidate profile. "So to me I've fully believed that that local level control is where most change happens."
Lyssy led in fundraising but trailed at the polls
Lyssy, 31, is of counsel at the Phillips, Hayden and Labbee law firm and a former member of Tampa's Citizens Advisory Budget and Finance Committee. She earned endorsements from school board member Patti Rendon, County Commissioner Joshua Wostal, the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and Tampa Firefighters Local 754. Despite raising the most money among District 2 candidates with $65,558 in donations as of July, she trailed Simic by roughly 620 votes on election night.
District 6: Perez leads but faces runoff
In the countywide District 6 race, Perez earned 48.31% with nearly 92,100 votes with 433 of 446 precincts reporting. Ken Gay finished second at 27.17% with about 51,800 votes. Sally Harris Williamson was eliminated with 24.52%. Perez and Gay advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
What's next
Both races head to the Nov. 3 general election. Tuesday's results remain unofficial and subject to certification by the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections.
