PENSACOLA – With the resignation of Escambia County School Board District 1 member Jeffrey Bergosh, effective November 21, 2016, Escambia County voters will elect a candidate later this year to fill the unexpired portion of Mr. Bergosh’s four-year term. Candidates who wish to qualify as a candidate for the unexpired portion of the term may do so during the upcoming qualifying period, which begins at noon, June 20, 2016, and ends at noon, June 24, 2016. Candidates may “pre-file” for the seat immediately; candidates who previously filed for the 2018 election may now switch to the 2016 election.
Mr. Bergosh submitted a letter of resignation, effective November 21, 2016, to Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford, citing his intent to qualify as a candidate in 2016 for Escambia County Commissioner District 1. His School Board District 1 term does not expire until November 2018, thus triggering Florida’s “resign-to-run” provision. The offices of Superintendent of Schools, and School Board Districts 4 and 5 will also appear on the ballot this year, as their four year terms expire this November.
All qualified candidates for School Board will appear on the August 30, 2016 Primary Election ballot. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters advance to the General Election ballot on November 8, 2016. The winning candidate in the District 1 contest will serve the final two years of Mr. Bergosh’s four-year term. The office will be on the ballot for a full four-year term in 2018.