07/17/2026
π³οΈ Ortona "Meet the Candidate" Rally Recap
Compiled from notes taken by the Glades County Republican Party Executive Committee
Note to Voters: These summaries reflect notes taken by party committee members to the best of their ability and are not verbatim quotes. To hear the candidates' exact words, arguments, and full context, we highly encourage you to watch the recording on the Supervisor of Elections YouTube page.
Candidate Introductions & Notable Shifts
While most candidates delivered speeches similar to their previous campaign stops, one notable adjustment stood out:
Tarik Kose: Altered his introduction to strongly condemn personal attacks, emphasizing that after the election is over, everyone in the community will still be neighbors. This adjustment was likely in response to heavy negative questioning during the Lakeport rally.
The School Board candidates faced two highly debated questions:
Question A: What is one decision the current School Board made that you believe was wrong?
Lauran Thompson: Criticized the board's decision to stick with the "Apogee" communication tool, arguing they ignored teachers and staff who complained the system was ineffective.
Angie Hough: Believes reducing the hiring qualifications for the finance director was a critical error that may have directly contributed to the district's current state-declared financial emergency.
Anita Sauls: Expressed concern over a general lack of transparency, noting that finding clear information on board decisions has been consistently difficult.
Patricia Pierce: Defended both the Apogee system and the finance director hiring changes. She stated she has supported every decision made during her 24 years on the board.
Question B: Would you walk the halls and visit schools to hear from teachers?
Patricia Pierce: Cautioned that school board members should not simply walk onto campuses unannounced. She argued that best practices and legal guidelines are in place to keep board members from interfering with school administration and staff.
Angie Hough: Pointed out that board members in neighboring districts frequently visit campuses to mentor and bridge communication, and stated she would absolutely be in the schools.
Lauran Thompson: Quoted state statute affirming that school board members are permitted to visit schools, arguing that doing so acts as a vital check and balance.
Anita Sauls: Agreed she would get out into the schools to identify building-level needs.
Candidate Mentorship Note: When asked if she would want Patricia Pierce to mentor her, Lauran Thompson declined. While noting she has nothing against Ms. Pierce's mentoring abilities, Thompson argued that because Glades County is such a small district, it would be healthier to find mentors from the outside to inject fresh perspectives and ideas.
Growth, Businesses, & the County Commission
The commission candidates debated how to balance constituent desires with economic development.
The Development Question
Candidates were asked: If the majority of residents oppose a proposed development, would you side with the residents or move forward?
Commissioner Taylor: Explained that commissioners must ultimately follow legal guidelines if they cannot legally block a project. However, she emphasized that she wants to hear resident concerns and urged people to show up to public meetings to make their voices heard.
Tarik Kose: Stated he would back the residents if the development resulted in a negative impact on the community, while reiterating that legal boundaries must still be followed.
Linda Cisneros: Stated she is fully invested in Glades County, believing commissioners must prioritize listening to citizens and thoroughly educating themselves before making development decisions.
Managing Growth and Local Services
Commissioner Taylor addressed her frequently mentioned "pockets of managed growth," highlighting county-owned property near the Sheriff's office as an ideal location for much-needed growth and affordable housing. She also pointed out a common contradiction: residents frequently complain about wanting grocery stores and services but turn around and oppose the local growth needed to support those businesses.
Tarik Kose noted that while you cannot force a business to relocate to the county, local leadership can attract them by not having impact fees so families are not chased away. (Please see post on impact fees)
Congressional Spotlight: Marcus Carter (CD9)
Marcus Carter, the sole CD9 candidate present, was asked a follow-up about his grassroots stance of refusing special interest money.
During the rally, Mr. Carter noted that he had refused campaign funding from AIPAC and a Right to Life group.
AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee): A bipartisan organization that lobbies the U.S. government to maintain strong diplomatic, economic, and military ties with Israel.
Right to Life (National Right to Life Committee): The oldest and largest national pro-life organization in the U.S., dedicated to advocating against abortion and euthanasia through legislation.
Carterβs Stance: He clarified that while he is personally against abortion, he refused their funding because he believes corporate and special interest money must be removed from politics so politicians answer directly to voters rather than financial donors? This was a refreshing answer from a political candidate and something that the Republican Party executive committee of Glades County feels we should be pushing for.
Planning and Zoning Board Debate
A lively exchange broke out between citizens and elected officials regarding whether Planning and Zoning Board seats should require a formal application process and term limits.
Commissioner Jeff Patterson claimed the board has always advertised vacancies and utilized an application process, noting it was historically difficult to find volunteers.
Curtis Clay (Republican Party Executive Committee Chair) contradicted this, stating that advertising and open applications only began about three years ago following public complaints.
Richard Sobel (Citizen) backed Clay's claim, stating he was involved in the latest application process where several people applied, yet the county ultimately reappointed mostly the same sitting members. He supported implementing term limits and strict qualification requirements.
Tarik Kose agreed, advocating for term limits and qualified board members who make votes based on technical knowledge.
Linda Cisneros (Candidate for county commissioner and Clerk's Office employee) stated that to her knowledge, only sitting board members had applied.
Understanding the School Board "Flexible Spending" Referendum
At recent rallies, school board and administration officials have noted a measure on the November ballot asking for "flexible spending" authority.
What is the "Flexible Spending" Referendum?
Glades County schools are currently experiencing a state-declared "financial emergency" because their reserve fund fell below the state-mandated 2% limit. The upcoming ballot measure asks voters for permission to reallocate tax funds.
Specifically, it would allow the district to shift a portion of its tax levy (up to 1.00 mill) out of its Capital Outlay budget (typically reserved for building construction, repairs, and land) and move it into its Operating Expenses budget (used for daily costs like teacher salaries, classroom materials, and building up mandatory financial reserves). This is nothing new. It has been voted on and passed before, but it must be re-voted on every four years.
The Pros of the Measure
No Tax Increase: This is a "tax-neutral" swap. It changes where existing tax dollars go, rather than adding a new tax on property owners.
Saves Jobs & Programs: It immediately provides the flexible operating funds needed to hire or retain teachers and avoid state-mandated budget or staff cuts.
Prevents State Takeover: Rebuilding the 2% reserve helps the county exit the state's financial emergency oversight.
The Cons of the Measure
Drains Capital Reserves: Money shifted into operations cannot be spent on building repairs, technology upgrades, or school facility modernization.
Short-Term Band-Aid: Swapping funds manages the immediate financial emergency but does not solve the long-term, structural funding challenges of a small, rural school district. This is currently being addressed by the advisory board from the Department of Education.
The Glades County Republican Party Executive Committee shares these discussions to help citizens stay informed and engaged. We encourage you to ask questions directly to the candidates, and we hope they will respond to clarify their positions and help you understand where they stand on key issues.
